Asia-Pacific
5 troops killed as militants attack Pakistan checkpost
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-26 13:24
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ISLAMABAD - Taliban militants in a pre-dawn attack on a security checkpost in a Pakistani tribal region killed five soldiers and injured several others on Friday, security sources said.
A senior army officer Lt. Colonel Anwar Abbas was among those killed when the militants launched attack in Orakzai tribal region, where the security forces, backed by fighter planes, are engaged in major operation, they said.
There had been no independent confirmation of the casualties.
The security forces have started limited air strikes in Orakzai, the stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials said that a large number of militants fled from South Waziristan have arrived in Orakzai agency.
Thousands of people have been shifted to safe places as the security forces stepped up operations in the area. Locals said that some 80 percent people have left the area and moved to nearby cities including Hangu and Kohat.
On Thursday, jet fighters bombed a militants-linked religious seminary and a school in Orakzai agency and killed at least 11 militants, bringing death toll of the militants to 60, officials said.
Officials said the jet planes hit a seminary where the militants were holding meeting inside the compound at Mamozai area, the stronghold of the militants in Orakzai region.
Locals said that a nearby private school also came under the attack. Both buildings were completely destroyed, they said.
Several locals said that the jet fighters also bombed a center of non-political Tablighi Jmaat, where people gather on Thursday night for Islamic lectures.
