25 militants killed in NW Pakistan
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Xinhua, June 20, 2011
At least 25 militants were killed in an operation launched by the Pakistani armed forces in the country's northwest tribal area of Mohmand Agency along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, said a statement released by Pakistan Army on Sunday.
According to the statement, four soldiers were also killed and eight others injured in the two-day operation jointly launched by Pakistan Army, border force "Frontier Corps," police and Pakistan Air Force on Saturday.
"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," said the statement.
The statement said that the joint military operation was aimed at evicting terrorists of their stronghold "Walidad" in Mohmand Agency. After an intense fight backed by air force aircraft, troops were able to secure the "Walidad Top" and surrounding areas of the mountain, said the statement, adding that the remaining militants fled into Afghanistan across the border.
Pakistan says that militants have recently launched several attacks on the border check posts from Afghan soil. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry summoned Afghan envoys on two occasions to lodge protest over the incursions.
According to Pakistani officials, militants have carried out at least four incursions into the Pakistani territories from Afghan soil in less than a month and nearly 40 Pakistani security personnel and civilians have been killed in these attacks.
Pakistan has raised the issue of militants' incursion from Afghan territory with President Hamid Karzai while he was in Islamabad on a two-day visit ending on June 11. Afghan President Karzai has promised to stop militants if it is proved that they are using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan.
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 and 2009.
