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Pakistan army kills 15 militants in Taliban strongholds

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-21 22:28

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed 15 more militants during the last 24 hours as the operation in the country's tribal area pushed further towards the Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan, the army said Wednesday in a daily press release.

The army said three security forces personnel including an officer were killed and seven others were injured in separate clashes in the last 24 hours during the ground assault in various areas in the tribal agency near the border with Afghanistan.

In the operation coded as Rah-e-Nijat, or path of salvation, the security forces continued shelling on extremists hideouts in Ladha, Makeen and other adjacent areas of Southern Waziristan, said the statement.

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The security forces ground troops continued to advance to the key bases of extremists in the region, however in some areas security forces were also facing stiff resistance.

Local TV reports said the forces have demolished the houses of new Taliban chief Hakeemullah Mehsud and suicide attacks mastermind Qari Husain in Kotkai area of Southern Waziristan.

Some arms and ammunition have also been recovered during the operation including 27 hand grenades and four rockets, according to the press release.

In the ending operation in Swat and Malakand, the army said, the security forces killed a potential suicide bomber and arrested 11 militants with another two voluntarily surrendered.

According to the statement, a total of 11,089 families (80,507 individuals) are registered at DI Khan and Tank in Southern Waziristan before the start of operation Rah-e-Nijat with 4,490 more families (41,570 individuals) registered after the operation.

So far, 4,735 cash cards have been distributed amongst the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Waziristan, the army said.

Pakistani security forces launched the military operation in South Waziristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan on October 17. The army said that about 30,000 soldiers are in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants in the lawless area.