Taliban ambushes killed at least four Pakistani soldiers in the northwest as the military made a new push into the militants’ last major stronghold near the border with Afghanistan while at least 12 militants were killed in the clash, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.
The army said the incident took place in the Ghaziza area of Datta Khel town, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Miramshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal district which borders Afghanistan.
“Fleeing terrorists also left behind three of their dead bodies. Four soldiers also embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) in the exchange of fire,” it said in a statement.
A security official in the area confirmed the incident and casualties.
The conflict zone is remote and off-limits to journalists making it difficult to verify the army’s claims, including the number and identity of those killed. The military says more than 2,700 militants have been killed since the launch of the major offensive.
The army began a major offensive in North Waziristan last summer to drive out Taliban and other extremist militants who launch attacks on government and civilian targets.
The army is meeting fierce resistance as it moves further into the lower-lying areas of the Shawal Valley, the Taliban’s last stronghold, military officials said.
Meanwhile, according to a private TV channel, three soldiers were martyred and six others sustained injuries in a blast near the vehicle of security forces in North Waziristan. The blast took place when the security personnel were busy in search operation. The injured were shifted to CMH Bannu.
In another development, three rockets were fired from the Afghan side of the border on the security forces camp in North Waziristan. The rockets fell near the camp but there was no loss of life.
TWO TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN QUETTA:
Separately on Sunday, the Frontier Constabulary (FC) claimed to have arrested two terrorists during a search operation in the Goharabad area of Quetta early morning.
On a tip-off, the FC personnel and police raided a hideout in the area and arrested the two terrorists, whose identity could not be confirmed immediately. The security forces recovered arms and ammunitions from the terrorists.
A spokeperson for the FC said that the terrorists were involved in numerous targeted killings and bombings in Quetta and other areas and they were wanted to police. The terrorists have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
2 TERRORISTS ARRESTED IN CHARSADDA:
Moreover, two terrorists were arrested along with weapons, explosives, hand grenades and other material on Sunday in Charsadda thus foiling a terrorist bid.
Reports said the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) raided a house near Farooq-e-Azam Chowk in Charsadda during which two terrorists were nabbed.
The CTD personnel recovered 80 kilogrammes of explosives, two hand grenades, weapons and other material used in bomb making and terror activities from the house.
The security personnel seized the recovered material and shifted the detainees to an undisclosed destination of interrogation.