Two Pakistani soldiers, 20 Taliban forces die in clashes
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Nov 22, IRNA -- Two Pakistani army captains were killed and eigth others were injured in clashes with Taliban militants in a northwestern tribal region on Monday, local media reported.
Reports said that 20 militants were also killed in clashes in Upper Orakzai tribal region.
Heavily armed Taliban attacked two security posts at Hadizai area, a former stronghold of Taliban, and fired rockets and mortar shells. Two army captains were killed and eight soldiers were also injured.
Meanwhile, the reports said that the security forces returned fire and killed 20 militants.
Dawn reported that the security forces had faced tough Taliban resistance when they launched operation to clear the area of militants.
The forces had established posts in different parts of Orakzai agency after expelling the militants of most of their former base. But they are still hiding in several remote and hilly areas and launch attacks on the forces.
Orakzai Agency, the lone tribal region of Pakistan which does not have borders with Afghanistan, had been once the stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.
Many TTP leaders also took shelter in Orakzai after they were expelled as the result of major offensive by Pakistani forces in South Waziristan tribal region in 2009.
The incumbent TTP chief Hakimulah Mehsood started activities in parts of Orakzai agency in 2008. Orakzai had been relatively peaceful tribal region before the Taliban activities there.
Taliban have also carried out attacks on the Shiite Muslims and pro-government tribal elders in Orakzai agency and have killed hundreds of them over the past few years.
Local tribesmen have also formed ‘Lashkar’ or private militia against the Taliban who are supporting the security forces.
**1422
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30675004
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