By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan security forces, backed by fighter planes and gunship helicopters, killed about 60 militants in a tribal region, security officials said Tuesday.
In the ongoing operation in Mohmand Agency, the forces from ‘Frontier Corps’ advanced and secured a main road in the region, a statement said.
“The Security Forces have killed 60 militants during the last 24 hours operation in Mohmand Agency,” the statement said.
In the process, militants’ strongholds in areas called Habibzai and Mulakhel were destroyed.
Important militant commanders named Umar Khitab, Qari Mumtaz, Haroon Rashid, Bilal, Yaqub, Yar Said, Yusuf and Hamza were killed.
Also militant strongholds of Krair and Chingal were decisively engaged.
It said that there are obvious signs of weakness and desperations in the rank and file of militants, both local and foreign, who were now on the run.
The army had launched major attacks against militants in Mohmand tribal agency last week and intensified attacks on Monday, they said.
The security forces used artillery to hit the hideout and officials said the militants fired on the forces when the ground forces conducted a raid.
On January 11, around 600 militants launched attacks on three positions of the security forces, killing several soldiers in Mohmand agency, according to the army.
In counter-attack, the forces had killed 40 militants.
Security officials said that over 100 militants have been killed over the past two weeks in Mohmand agency.
Mohmand tribal agency bordering the restive Bajaur tribal region and many Taliban militants moved to Mohmand area from Bajaur due to major military offensive there.