Islamabad: At least 26 pro-Taliban fighters were on Sunday killed and 16 more injured in fierce clashes with security forces in Pakistan's restive Mohmand tribal region after militants attacked a security check post.
The clashes erupted when about 300 militants attacked a check post of the Mohmand Rifles early this morning. The security forces retaliated, sparking a gun battle that continued for about four hours, TV news channels reported.
A total of 26 militants were killed and 16 others were injured, official sources were quoted as saying by the channels. Fourteen security personnel were also injured in the clashes.
The security forces later targeted militant hideouts in Mohmand Agency. Reports said the militants carried out the attack apparently in retaliation for the operations against the Taliban in Buner, Dir and Swat districts of the North West Frontier Province. Troops continued their operations in the three districts, and reports said 13 militants were killed yesterday at Adinzai in Dir while three key commanders were killed at Maidan in the same district.
Six militant hideouts at Maidan were destroyed in shelling. Security forces also shelled suspected Taliban hideouts in Adinzai. Meanwhile, confusion surrounded the deaths of 18 people in a gun battle between security forces and militants near Wana in South Waziristan Agency.
The military said troops had killed 18 militants in an exchange of fire in Spin area, 30 km northeast of Wana, after rebels attacked a security forces convey. It said a soldier was also killed and a militant was apprehended. However, media reports said several civilians, including several school teachers, were killed when they were caught in the crossfire between the militants and security forces.