Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistani forces blow up pro-Taliban seminary in tribal region

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March 15, IRNA
Pakistan-Seminary-Taliban
Pakistani security forces on Wednesday blew up a religious seminary in the North Waziristan tribal region, suspecting the seminary was being used as Taliban base, correspondents said.

Building of the Madrassa Khalifa Islami, located near Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, had been closed since October last year.

Army, paramilitary militia and local authorities took part in the demolition.

Explosives were used to blow up the madrassa building early morning, when the area had been under curfew, correspondents said.

The building was empty when it was dynamited.

Correspondents said the people in Miranshah and adjoining areas heard huge blasts at the time of demolition.

Majority of the madrassa students belonged to Afghanistan, according to locals.

This is the third madrassa to be demolished in North Waziristan tribal region since the operation was launched earlier this month.

A seminary of a local wanted pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Sadiq Noor was demolished last week.

Another Gulsha Madrassa, thought to be used by militants, was also demolished.

Security forces launched a major operation in North Waziristan on March 2nd.

Some 120 militants were killed in the three days of clashes with security forces.

Five soldiers also lost lives.

Several people were forced to leave the area and the authorities asked Afghan refugees to leave the area.

ARMS SALES BAN: Meanwhile the authorities in Miranshah have asked arms dealers to stop their business in the region.

Correspondents said that some 120 arms shopkeepers were given notices to shut arms sale.

TRIBESMEN RETURNING: Tribesmen who had fled the area in view of the clashes have started returning home, correspondents said.

Some people had migrated to the nearby cities as the clashes started on March 2nd.

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