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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani troops killed over 40 Taliban near the Afghan border, the Pakistan military said on Thursday, adding that at least 8 soldiers also died in the bloody clashes.
The Pakistani troops were backed by tanks and gunships during the major operation, the military said.
"Thirty militants were also arrested in the clashes over the last 24 hours in the South Waziristan tribal district," a military spokesman said.
On Wednesday, Pakistani forces launched a major operation against Taliban positions following days of fighting in the Waziristan region, which the United States has identified as a “key lair” of Al Qaeda and Taliban militants. Pakistan Military obeys and follows the US.
"Reportedly, 40 miscreants have been killed in the last 24 hours and 30 miscreants have been apprehended, many of them injured," an Army statement said.
"Soldiers have cleared militants from three strongholds in Spinkai Raghazai, Nawazkot and surrounding areas of Tiarza village in the tribal area," the military said in the statement. However, it is not confirmed by any independent source.
Inter-Services public relations director-general Major General Athar Abbas said the clashes occurred in areas mainly controlled by the fiercely independent Mehsud tribe.
Gen. Abbas said he was not aware of the whereabouts of rebel commander Baitullah Mehsud, who is based in South Waziristan’s mountains and has been blamed by Pakistan and CIA for former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Baitullah Mehsud always denied the allegation of Bhutto’s killing. Benazir Bhutto’s husband and Pakistan Peoples Party senior leaders also rejected the allegations of Pakistan and CIA and said that it was an effort to divert the attention from the actual culprit. Pakistan and US is trying to use Bhutto’s killing as an excuse to bomb and kill Taliban Forces in Pakistan.
Gen. Abbas said, "Troops on the ground and in the air are busy operating against the militants in Jandola Makeen, Razmak, Spinkai Raghzai and Tayarza areas."
"Gunship helicopters are being used in the inaccessible areas and those parts where the insurgents are offering tough resistance. Besides copters, the Army is using artillery and mortars to cause maximum damage to the militants," he said.
He said additional troops had been sent out to secure the posts which had come under repeated attacks from militants.
Local people from Jandola, Makeen, Razmak, Speenkai Raghzai and Tayarza areas have started migrating from the battlefield to safer places.
In North Waziristan, about 2,500 tribesmen protested against the military's attacks in South Waziristan. It is commonly believed that Pakistan military’s war with their People and tribesmen will end with catastrophic damage to Pakistan military. However, the USA overt and secret funding to Pakistani Military and Generals are conditional with the service of slaughtering Taliban" and military actions against so called "Islamic Terrorists."
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