At least 65 militants, 11 tribal militia men and seven security personnel have been killed as clashes on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Salarzai Tehsil of Bajaur Agency continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday. The border villages and security checkposts attacked by militants, who officials say are a mixture of Afghan, Swat and Bajaur Agency militant groups, also left 12 volunteers and 10 soldiers injured. Official sources said that 15 militants, a peace volunteer and a soldier died on Monday. TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed that the attacks on the border have been intensified to avenge the killing of Bajaur TTP chief Mualvi Dadullah and others. He claimed that the Taliban had taken control of an area about eight kilometers inside Salarzai along the Pak-Afghan border and have reached up to Khat Kalley near Pashat Bazaar and are consolidating their positions.
Salarzai Assistant Political Agent Jehangir Azam Khan said that more than 65 militants had been killed and scores of others injured in the last four days in Batwar area and the surrounding villages. The militants attacked the bordering villages and the checkposts with rockets and heavy weapons but the peace committee volunteers and the forces repulsed their attack and had also arrested a number of them. Roughly he said, more than sixty five militants have been killed so far and there are also losses of volunteers and security personnel. On the other hand the TTP spokesman claims that they have killed more than eight soldiers and many lashkar men. Ehsanullah Ehsan said that one Zarar Tank, two motorcycles and three vehicles of the military had also been seized and one tank destroyed.
