By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani security forces on Saturday killed 85 more militants in fresh air-strikes and ground operations in various parts of the tribal region of Bajaur, officials said.
“Air and land combined efforts inflicted heavy losses upon the miscreants in a number of intense encounters at different locations in Bajaur Agency,” a statement from the paramilitary force ‘Frontier Corps’ said.
Fighting is continued despite a government announcement to halt attacks in respect of the holy month of fasting.
The Frontier Crops statement said that in an encounter with miscreants at the town of Inayat Qila, the troops backed by air, exterminated 60 heavily armed militants and destroyed their 16 vehicles.
During a heavy exchange of fire with militants in the area around Loesam area, the Combat Aviation killed another 25 miscreants and destroyed five vehicles, it said.
In a combined effort, other major miscreants’ strongholds in the area were successfully targeted through land and air attacks, the statement said.
“These actions resulted in uprooting the militants from their heavily defended localities, giving them sizeable losses”.
The militants were killed in the operation at Loisam, Sangkhata, Shankai areas of Bajaur Agency.
The number of militants killed in last 24 hours has risen to over 150, two security personnel were killed in gun battle in Loisam, the statement said.
The ongoing clashes have continued for six weeks and have killed about 700 militants.
It said that the security forces also continued operation against militants in another tribal region of Darra Adamkhel. However no loss of life was reported.
Meanwhile, experts under the surveillance of security forces surveyed the destroyed bridges to open the Indus Highway, which is closed for a couple of weeks. People are facing severe problems because of closure of Kohat tunnel and Indus highway.