By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan army said on Sunday that security forces, backed by air power, have killed 25 militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border.
The army said that four soldiers were also killed and eight others injured in clashes in Mohmand tribal region.
“Presently troops are consolidating their positions in the area and search operation for remnants is in progress. The operation also had full support of people of Mohmand Agency, who expressed great satisfaction and happiness on this successful operation and reiterated their resolve to keep supporting Security Forces in their effort to defeat terrorists in the area,” an army statement said.
The statement said that a joint operation of Pakistan Army, border force “Frontier Corps, police and Pakistan Air Force ‘to evict terrorists stronghold of “Walidad” in Mohmand Agency was launched on 18 June’.
It said that ground operation was preceded with precise strikes by air force aircraft on terrorists bunkers and positions on “Walidad Top”.
“After an intense fight, troops were able to secure “Walidad Top” and surrounding areas of the mountain and managed to kill 25 terrorists, while remaining fled across the border,” the army said.
During the operation own 4 soldiers embraced died and 8 were injured, the statement said.
Pakistan says that militants have recently launched several attacks on the border check posts from Afghan soil. The Foreign Ministry summoned Afghan envoys on two occasions to lodge protest over the incursions.
Security sources said that armed militants carried out at least four incursions into Pakistani territories from Afghan soil in less than a month. The attacks killed nearly 40 Pakistani security men and civilians.
Pakistan had also raised the issue of militants incursion from Afghan territory with President Hamid Karzai when he travelled to Islamabad on June 10-11. Mr Karzai promised to stop militants if proved that they are using Afghan soil.
Deputy chief of Pakistani Taliban Maulvi Faqir Muhammad said last week that he is in the northeastern Afghan province of Kunar and would attack Pakistani forces in the Bajaur tribal region.
Another leader of Pakistani Taliban, Maulana Fazaullah, is believed to have crossed into Afghanistan’s Nuristan province and has regrouped his fighters there. Fazaullah led bloody campaign against Pakistani forces in Swat valley in 2008-9.