Fighting between Pakistani forces, militants intensified in tribal region
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Aug 8, IRNA
Pakistan-Militants
Fighting between Pakistani security forces and militants intensified in a tribal region on the third day on Friday, with conflicting claims about casualties.
Clashes started on Wednesday in the Bajaur tribal region when the forces, backed by gunship helicopters and tanks, shelled positions of Taliban militants.
The forces had claimed of killing 30 militants on the second day of the operation on Thursday.
Taliban have also claimed to have killed 40 soldiers, the claim denied by the army.
Taliban say they have surrounded some 150 soldiers since the operation has been launched.
But the army says the soldiers are not surrounded but are engaged in fighting.
Locals said that fighting continued on Friday and bodies of both sides are lying in Loisom area, some 15 kilometers from Khar, the center of Bajaur agency.
Fighting has forced the people in Loisom to stay indoors and some told local reporters on phone that they want to move to safe places if fighting is stopped.
They said they can not move anywhere duo to severe clashes and that all roads are closed.
An army spokesman Major Murad said that the militants have not surrounded the soldiers but they are fighting back.
But local journalists also say that soldiers are surrounded.
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