Eight soldiers martyred as Operation Zarb-e-Azb eliminates 37 more terrorists, toll hits 187

Continuing Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency for the second consecutive day on Monday, officials claimed killing around 37 militants whereas eight soldiers were martyred and three injured in separate incidents.

According to officials, security forces used jet fighters to target hideouts of militants in Mana and other areas of Shawal region. The airstrikes wiped out six dens of terrorists in which more than 27 militants were killed. Terrorist hideouts in Mirali region were also targeted with gunship helicopters.

Tribal sources said that airstrikes and shelling are focused on Khushhali Torikhel, which is considered a stronghold of terrorists. Unconfirmed reports reveal that terrorists are resisting military action in this part of NWA as militant leader Maulvi Abdul Khaliq and a large number of foreign militants are sheltering in Khushhali Torikhel.

Seven militants were killed in exchange of fire with security personnel when they were trying to flee from a cordoned off area on Monday evening.

“A fire exchange took place in which two soldiers also embraced shahadat (martyrdom),” said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

According to an earlier statement of ISPR, six soldiers were martyred and three others were injured when the militants targeted troops with an IED in the Ghulam Khan area near the Pak-Afghan border. Reacting to the IED attack, security forces launched a search operation in the area.

Amidst continuing airstrikes against militants, contingents of armed forces are being deployed all over NWA.

Troops are being airlifted to mountain tops in a bid to bring terrorists under siege from all sides.

Civilians said that hundreds of tribesmen are abandoning houses in Mirali and fleeing to safer places.

No civilian is allowed to enter Mirali and traffic and transportation between Bannu and Miranshah is also blocked. Around 30 per cent dwellers of Miranshah are stranded and are unable to flee due to the curfew. They are also facing acute shortage of edible items.

In wake of the military action in NWA, security has been tightened in Bajaur, Khyber Agency, Peshawar and other main cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Reports from Bajaur said that all educational institutions in the area have been closed on the directives of FATA Secretariat. Similar developments are taking place in other tribal regions and agencies. Security is on high alert in Bajaur and government offices have been shut down in Civil Colony at Khar. Roads linking Bajaur with Afghanistan have already been closed whereas further troops are being deployed in border areas.

Sources in Bajaur said that chief of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Mullah Fazlullah and his close aides are sheltering across the border in Afghanistan, adding that Fazlullah shuttles between Kunar and Nooristan.

Security is on high alert in Peshawar, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan and troops are patrolling in sensitive areas.

There is a complete ban on entry of private vehicles into cantonment areas and except for passengers, no one is allowed to enter Peshawar Airport.