Pakistani security forces killed 200 militants in a five-day
operation in northwestern Pakistan's tribal area, an army statement
said on Thursday.
A jirga told the military authorities that a total of 200
militants including 50 foreigners had been killed in North
Waziristan since Sunday, the statement from the army's
Inter-Services Public Relations said.
According to the statement, 25 militants were identified as
Uzbek and another 25 were from Tajikistan, Afghanistan and of Arab
descent.
The army also confirmed that it lost 50 soldiers in the clashes
with militants.
Some militants on Sunday launched an attack on an army convey in
Mir Ali, a major town in North Waziristan, triggering a large-scale
operation from the security forces.
The security forces bombed the hideouts of suspected militants
in the area with gunship helicopters.
The statement also said that security forces had turned down the
request of ceasefire of militants as their demands could not be
met.
Local people said that the authorities had imposed undeclared
curfew in Mir Ali bazaar and the adjoining areas and had also
closed roads, causing troubles for the people ahead of Eid
festival.
The security situation in northwest Pakistan, especially the
tribal areas, worsened after militants in North Waziristan scrapped
a peace deal with the government in July.
The last three months witnessed tightened tension between
militants and security forces in the area, leaving more than 500
people dead since July.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2007)
