Pakistani forces kill 17 militants
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 31, IRNA -- Pakistani security forces Tuesday killed 17 militants in Orakzai Agency, a stronghold of Taliban, security officials said.
The Pakistani army launched an airstrike in the Mamoozai area of Upper Orakzai in the morning and destroyed four hideouts of the militants.
Pakistan army declared victory over the militants in Orakzai agency, the lone tribal region of Pakistan which does not have borders with Afghanistan.
Pakistani forces carry out strikes in the region when receive information about the activities or presence of the militants, sources said.
Orakzai agency is still considered to be the main base for the Taliban militants where they are thought to plan attacks in other parts of the country.
The strike in Orakzai came amid reports that Pakistani forces are set for a major offensive in North Waziristan tribal region against the Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her visit to Pakistan on Friday asked Pakistan to take decisive steps against the militants.
Reports said that Pakistani officials have advised aid agencies to prepare for help to some 50,000 families who are likely to be displaced as the result of possible operation.
The US had been asking Pakistan to launch operation in North Waziristan, but Islamabad had been reluctant. But the mounting pressure has now forced Pakistan to act against the militants.
Several Taliban groups and the Haqqani network, led by an Afghan commander, Sirajuddin Haqqani, are active in the region and the US says they are planning cross border attacks into Afghanistan.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30411641
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