Deadly encounter: Eleven militants killed in Kurrum Agency

The clashes took place in Spar Kot and Tora Warai areas of the agency

KURRAM AGENCY: At least 11 suspected militants were killed and several others suffered injuries on Thursday in clashes with the security forces in Central Kurram Agency.

Officials said the skirmishes between the militants and security forces occurred in the areas of Spar Kot and Tora Warai in Central Kurram, which shares a border with the Tirah Valley.

After the clashes, the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. The officials also confirmed injuries to a jawan of the security forces but did not give out any further details. The official claims could also not be confirmed through independent sources as the area is out of bounds for the media.

Kurrum Agency shares a border with North Waziristan Agency, where Pakistan Army launched an extensive military operation, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb  Pakistan failed following a brazen attack on Karachi airport.

The military claims to have cleared most of the agency, which was once a hotbed of local militants and their foreign cohorts. During the offensive, more than 2,700 militants have been killed while security forces have also lost more than 350 personnel.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.