By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistan’s military said Tuesday that it has at least 50 Islamic militants in a security operation in country’s restive northwest region.
The offensive in Darra Adamkhel, a known market for locally produced weapons and stronghold of Taliban insurgents, was launched Monday to re-take control of a strategic road tunnel linking Peshawar, capital of North-West Frontier Province, with the central and southern parts of the country.
“The operation met success and security forces took over Kohat tunnel and adjacent areas. Troops are currently clearing Darra bazaar and area around it from miscreants,” army spokesman Major Murad Khan told reporters.
He said artillery and helicopter gunships were pounding Taliban’s hideouts. “More than 50 miscreants have been killed so far while one soldier embraced shahdat (martyrdom).”
The fighting in Darra Adamkhel, a semi-tribal area about 15 km south of Peshawar, erupted in late August after rebels carried out a failed suicide car bombing on a paramilitary camp in the area to avenge the arrest of one of their commanders.
Two civilians were killed and 30, including 20 paramilitary Frontier Corps troops, were wounded when the vehicle blew up on being fired upon by the soldiers.
Later on the rebels took over the Kohat tunnel and closed the traffic along Indus highway.