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Three troops, seven terrorists killed in clash in Mir Ali

Pakistan army launches ground strike against insurgent hideouts in North Waziristan.

Three soldiers were killed on Tuesday in a gunfight with militants during the army offensive against insurgent hideouts in North Waziristan Agency, the military said.

The clash happened near the town of Mir Ali, where the army is in the midst of a major operation to clear the area of militants and their strongholds.

“Three soldiers embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and six others were injured in exchange of fire with terrorists while clearing area Fateh Khel near town of Mirali,” the military said in a statement.

It said seven terrorists were also killed.

A security official said that the army had begun ground operations in the Mirali and Dattakhel areas on Monday.

Earlier, chief military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said on Tuesday that the Pakistan army will “completely eliminate” terrorist sanctuaries and hideouts from North Waziristan.

In a Press briefing, Bajwa said that 447 terrorists have been killed so far whereas 88 hideouts have been destroyed. He also said that 26 soldiers have lost their lives. However, this information could not be independently verified as journalists do not have access to most parts of the restive agency.

He said terrorists will be rooted out from the country at any cost and concrete steps will be taken to ensure that the terrorists could not return to these areas after the operation.

Maj-Gen. Bajwa said the operation against terrorists is in full swing and a large number of them have been killed, however some of them managed to flee the area.

He said no terrorist could leave North Waziristan after June 15. He said security situation in the cleared areas of North Waziristan is satisfactory. He said that from January to mid of this year total 190 innocent people were killed in terrorist attacks throughout the country.

The major general said that a ground operation in Mir Ali has started and that militant commander Matiullah was among those who were killed.

Terrorists put up resistance when forces penetrated the area, however, 11 of them surrendered.

The DG ISPR also added that 80 per cent of Miramshah has been cleared by the security forces. “North Waziristan had become a hub of terrorism where several terrorist networks were based and had been operating for a long time. Terrorists used to brainwash suicide bombers while recruiting them in North Waziristan,” he said. DG ISPR said that the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has crossed 900,000 but it is being ensured that the registration of IDPs is made after full investigation.

Bajwa was accompanied by the federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch. Baloch said the government had been sincere in holding talks with Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) till the very last moment but it was the Taleban who carried out terrorist attacks and violated the ceasefire.

He also brushed aside suggestions that the military was running affairs, and said all matters including internally displaced persons (IDPs) are under civilian control. He added that the military is only assisting the civilian administration in Bannu.

news@khaleejtimes.com

(With inputs from Agencies)