 | « Back to article | Print this article |
At least 24 militants were killed on Monday in Pakistan, including 18 when a United States drone unleashed six missiles on terrorist vehicles and compound in the restive North Waziristan tribal region.
Violence also rocked the nearby tribal areas as six more Taliban fighters, including a key commander, were killed in number of flare-ups between paramilitary forces and militants in Swat.
Unleashing six missiles on the militant den of North Waziristan, a US drone killed 18 militants, hitting two terrorist getaway vehicles and compound in the restive region.
Six militants travelling in the vehicle were killed in the first drone strike. The others died in the attack on the compound, officials said.
In a ramped up US campaign in the region to take out the Al Qaeda, Taliban and Haqqani network fighters, 110 such missile strikes have been launched killing more than 100 militants in the area this year.
As the US continue to target North Waziristan, Pakistani forces stepped up their anti-militancy campaign in other tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, killing six militants, including a commander in three separate gun battles in the restive Swat region, officials said.
They said three paramilitary troops were injured.
Three of the six dead rebels had been released from detention three days ago after they had been cleared by joint investigations teams of law enforcement agencies.
The commander of an extremist group was killed in a skirmish with security forces in Shamozai area of Swat district. Two militants -- Zarqavi and Noor-ul-Hadi -- were gunned down in an exchange of fire in Kalam area.
The rebels opened fire when they were challenged by troops at a check point. Two troopers were injured in the shootout. Both militants had been freed from detention three days ago.
In another gun battle, three militants were shot dead after they attacked a military convoy at Peochar valley in Matta sub-division.
One of the rebels was identified as Waqar, who too was released from detention three days ago.
One trooper was injured in the incident.
In the drone strike, missiles hit the vehicle in Mir Ali sub-division, 25 km east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan Agency.
Drone strikes are credited with killing some top insurgents but rights groups have said the attacks have also claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including women and children.