Pakistani Forces Attack Militants in Tribal Area

Pakistani forces attack militants in tribal area

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Pakistan security forces used gunship helicopters to bomb suspected militant hideouts in the tribal region near the rugged Afghan border early Tuesday, according to a military spokesman.

The raid occurred in the Zamzula area in the South Waziristan tribal area after information about the training activities of the foreign militants and their local supporters, Pakistani army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said.

“The operation was launched at 6:55 a.m. local time when the foreign militants and their local facilitators were engaged in training,” Sultan said.

The spokesman said that three of five compounds were destroyed and several militants were killed and some others were injured, but he did not give the exact number of the casualties.

Helicopters were used in the operation, Sultan said, adding that 25 to 30 militants were present in the area when the attack was launched.

“Their activities were being monitored for some time and the operation was conducted after confirmed reports about their activities were received,” the spokesman said.

He said that no one from the security forces was hurt.

Meanwhile, the private Geo TV quoted “official sources” as saying that the Pakistani security forces killed or injured over 20 miscreants and destroyed three hideouts in an operation in the South Waziristan border area, Zamazola.

Helicopters targeted three sites and most of foreign and local miscreants were killed in the raids, the official sources said, adding that the forces are searching for the surviving miscreants.

It has been calm in South Waziristan after a peace deal was signed with the militants and tribesmen in July 2004.

Pakistani army also signed another peace agreement with militants in the second troubled spot North Wazistan in September last year.

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