11 Taliban killed in Orakzai, 25 Taliban, six soldiers killed in Bara firefight


11 Taliban killed in Orakzai

Thursday, April 01, 2010

The Daily News, Pakistan, PESHAWAR:

Helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts in parts of Orakzai Agency on Wednesday, killing as many as 11 terrorists, officials said. The gunships targeted militant compounds at Sherin Dara, Baizot, Kokdara Charo Khel and Mirobak areas of Orakzai killing eighth terrorists.

As many as five Taliban fighters bunkers were razed to ground during the shelling, the officials said. In the afternoon, helicopter gunships targeted a vehicle carrying militants in Upper Orakzai, killing three of the terrorists. Also, four members of a family, including two women, were killed when a mortar hit their house in Lerah, residents said.

25 Taliban, six soldiers killed in Bara firefight

* 20 militants, six soldiers killed as around 100 Taliban attack FC checkpost in Khyber Agency
* Five militants killed in Mohmand

By Sajid Ali and Abdul Saboor Khan

BARA/GHALANI: As many as 25 Taliban fighters and six soldiers were killed on Wednesday, as security forces clashed with terrorists across the country’s northwest.

Six security forces’ personnel and 20 terrorists were killed when Taliban fighters attacked the Frontier Constabulary (FC) Fort in Khyber Agency’s Bara tehsil, officials said. FC officials told Daily Times that the Taliban fighters attacked the FC Fort with heavy weapons, including rockets, killing five FC personnel and injuring 30 others.

They said the FC retaliated and killed over 20 militants. The officials said troops targeted the Taliban fighters’ vehicles, however a number of them managed to flee to the nearby mountains.

The forces started an operation against the Taliban fighters in the area six months ago, but despite the operation, militants continue to operate in clusters and have destroyed 13 schools, a hospital and other government’s building in the past six months.

An Inter-Services Public Relations statement said the Taliban fighters attacked a security forces checkpost in Khyber’s Jansi area.

It said a group of 80-100 Taliban fighters armed with guns, rockets and explosives-laden vehicles launched the attack, but the soldiers fought back, killing 20 terrorists and injuring another 30 in the ensuing battle. The ISPR said six security personnel were killed and another 15 were injured in the attack.

Mohmand: In Mohmand Agency, five Taliban fighters were killed and a security personnel injured when Taliban fighters attacked an FC post with automatic weapons in Milanga area of the agency’s Safi tehsil.

Officials said the Taliban fighters attacked two checkposts with rocket launchers and mortars that were repulsed, killing five Taliban fighters.