By IRNA
Islamabad : At least 40 militants and eight Pakistani soldiers have been killed in fierce fighting in the country’s tribal region, the army said on Thursday. Hundreds of troops on Wednesday launched a major operation with heavy artillery and tanks against the local Taliban of Baitullah Mehsood group in South Waziristan region.
“Security Forces have carried out operations in the areas of Spinkai Raghazai, Nawazkot and surrounding areas of Tiarza in South Waziristan Agency,” a statement from the army’s Inter-Services Public Relations said.
“These areas have been cleared of militants’ strongholds and hideouts,” the statement said.
It said that 40 miscreants have been killed in the past 24 hours and 30 miscreants have been apprehended while many injured.
According to the army statement, eight Security Forces personnel were killed while 32 others injured.
The Security Forces also moved 3 tanks in Jandola to protect the military convoys’ movement, the army said.
The army said Wednesday that due to recent attacks by miscreants in South Waziristan Agency the Security Forces check posts and camps were being reinforced with more troops.
The militants are also using rockets and automatic weapons to target security forces at its camps in the region, locals said.
The army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that operation will continue until all hideouts of militants are destroyed.
Local officials said that around 600 soldiers are using heavy artillery and tanks in the operation and local Taliban are using rockets and automatic weapons to hit positions of security forces.
The army says that troops are trying to advance to Taliban positions in mountains. The authorities have blocked all roads to operation areas, local tribesmen said.
Helicopters were also flown to identify miscreants’ locations, the army statement said.