Troops killed at least 30 militants in clashes on Sunday in the troubled north-western region bordering Afghanistan, officials said. Security forces backed by helicopter gunships, artillery and combat jets pounded mountain hideouts of militants as they continued their push into Bajaur tribal district, a known haven for elements of the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban.
"Exchange of fire between security forces and the insurgents continued throughout the day and the ground troops secured more areas, particularly the areas of Khazana and Nasir Abad, previously under the militants' control," a military spokesman Major Murad Khan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Several militant positions were destroyed in the operation.
"At least 30 militants were killed and numerous were wounded in the operation that we will continue till the last hideout of the rebels is destroyed," Major Murad added. He did not say if there were any casualties of government forces.
However, a Taliban spokesman, Maulvi Omar, claimed that seven military personnel were killed and another seven captured when the militants ambushed a security convoy near the Sheikh Baba Pul area. Fighting in the region broke out in early August when dozens of rebels attacked troops stationed at a checkpoint on a strategic hilltop in Loi Sam, an area previously used by militants to cross into Afghanistan to carry out raids on international forces.
Running battles have also triggered a humanitarian crisis as more than 250,000 Bajaur residents have fled to safer areas in neighbouring North West Frontier Province, where authorities are struggling with relief efforts. Zardari is expected to press Brown to lobby against unilateral US attacks in the Pakistani tribal region.
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