Fighter jets strike kill 20 militants in NW Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Feb 1, IRNA -- At least 20 militants were killed when fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in Orakzai tribal region on Wednesday, media reports said.
According to reports the jets targeted four compounds in Orakzai district.
“At least 20 Taliban militants were killed in the bombing,” a military official in Peshawar said.
The hideouts belonged to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders Mulla Tufan and Commander Moheyuddin, a security official said. There are reports that Moheyuddin might have been killed in the bombing.
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.
The security 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.
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.
Local tribesmen have also formed ‘Lashkar’ or private militia against the Taliban who are supporting the security forces.
**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30793130
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