By DPA
Islamabad : Pakistani helicopters Thursday destroyed a suspected vehicle in the restive tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, killing six militants including some foreign fighters with Al-Qaeda links, officials said.
The vehicle came under fire when it was travelling between Mir Ali and Miran Shah, the main towns in tribal district of North Waziristan, a military official in the area said.
The action was taken on an intelligence report that the insurgents were on their way to attack security forces in the area, he said, adding that some of the militants on board were “foreign terrorists”.
Tribal elders and local religious leaders meanwhile continued talks in the neighbouring South Waziristan to secure the release of some 240 soldiers held captive by the Islamic rebels for a week.
The troops from the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) and army, were captured by a large force of militants 40 kilometres south of the district capital of Wana. Initially, the authorities put the number of hostages at 150.
Six of the FC soldiers were released on Wednesday by militants, who have demanded complete withdrawal of Pakistani troops from tribal areas before the release of other security personnel.
Pakistani government has deployed more than 80,000 troops in the tribal belt, which the United States claims is a refuge for Al Qaeda and Taliban forces launching cross border attacks on international forces in Afghanistan.
Security forces in the region have come under repeated attack since government troops stormed a radical mosque in Islamabad in July. Around 70 soldiers have died in clashes and bombings in recent weeks.