Six more militants slain in Waziristan

A soldier and a civilian logistic worker also lose their lives

ISLAMABAD:

Security forces killed six suspected terrorists in an encounter in North Waziristan Agency on Tuesday. According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the incident took place when security forces were clearing Datta Khel area of the restive tribal agency. A solider also lost his life in the shootout.

“A civilian logistic staff also embraced shahadat in the same encounter when he was providing supplies to security forces,” said the military’s media wing, adding that.

The number of suspected terrorists so far killed in the Operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ has now reached 926 while 83 soldiers have also laid down their lives.

The operation began in June this year after efforts to strike a peace deal with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) failed. The army claimed to have cleared the towns of Miramshah, Mirali, Datta Khel, as well as the villages of Boya and Degan. However, there is no clear deadline regarding the completion of the operation.

More than one million people left their homes following the start of the military offensive in North Waziristan. Some of them have taken refuge in makeshift camps set up by the government in Bannu district.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.