Up to eight soldiers and over a dozen militants were reportedly killed in clash on Wednesday when Taliban stormed a check post in Badar area of South Waziristan Agency (SWA). Dozens of militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the check post in Surang Baba Ziarat village, around 30 kilometres north of Wana, the main SWA, a senior security official in Peshawar said. The attack came during an operation against militant hideouts which netted a huge cache of arms and ammunition, he said. Tehreek-e-Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed that their militants had killed more than a dozen soldiers and only one militant had died, though the group often exaggerates military casualties. The Nation, The News, Dawn, Daily Times.
The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan has denied reports that one of its ‘commanders’, Tariq Afridi, has been killed by a close relative in Khyber Agency. Mohammad, a spokesman for the TTP’s Tariq Afridi group, told Dawn by telephone that the group would try to release an audio cassette of Tariq Afridi or, if possible, connect him to some TV channels via phone to prove that he was alive. He said there was no truth in media reports that Afridi had been killed by his brother-in-law, adding that he was alive and in good health. Afridi belongs to the Akhorwal tribe of Darra Adamkhel, a town in the frontier region of Kohat. Dawn, Daily Mashriq, The News.
Six militants were killed and three security personnel and two members of a peace committee wounded as fighting in parts of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur agency along the border with Afghanistan continued on Wednesday. Local people feared huge casualties on both sides as heavy weapons were used in clashes continuing for the past six days.“The search operation continues in Batwar, Kambili and Tendo Dak areas of Salarzai. Dawn, Daily Mashriq.
Unidentified armed men kidnapped four persons from Lower Tehsil of Orakzai Agency on Wednesday. The incident took place at Laghri village in Stoori Khel area at about 10am. Those kidnapped were identified as Iran Gul s/o Wasil Khan, Zahid Ullah s/o Hunar Gul, Sher s/o Mir Gul and Noor Wali s/o Mir Asghar. All the four abductees belong to Aka Khel sub-tribe of Afridi tribe. Political Tehsildar Nauman Ali Shah told the media that kidnappers kidnapped these men for ransom and had taken them to mountainous Fawah Darra. After the kidnapping, security forces conducted a search operation in the area and apprehended a number of suspects who were handed over to the political administration. The Nation, Daily Aaj, Daily Mashriq.
Security forces seized huge cache of arms and ammunition during a raid at a compound in Khyber Agency, said security official. Giving details of the raid and weapons seized, he said, security forces had prior information about piling up of heavy weaponry from across the Afghan border at a compound in Landi Kotal, a border town in Khyber Agency. The Frontier Post.
Unidentified miscreants blew up KV.132 electricity supply pole in Shabqadar, Mohmand Agency, on Wednesday. Sources said the electricity supply was suspended to 25 rural areas, Mohmand Agency, for the last two days due to the destruction of electricity pole. They said the routine system had been miserable due to unavailability of electricity in the area. The Frontier Post.
Khasadar force on Wednesday foiled bid to smuggle heroin in the limits of Michni Check Post at Torkham. On the directives of the political administration, Khasadar force formed a team and started a search operation. While checking vehicles at Michni Check Post in Torkham, the forces intercepted a motorcar (R-7623) and recovered 1000 grams of high quality heroin hidden in secret cavities of the car. Moreover, the alleged smugglers Azizullah, Sanaullah and Abdur Rehman were arrested. The Frontier Post.
As drone attacks intensify in Pakistan’s tribal areas, the acting ambassador and charge d’affaires, Richard Hoagland, remains reluctant to say anything on the subject responsible for most damage to the goodwill of the US among Pakistanis. In an exclusive interview with The Nation and Nawa-i-Waqt, Mr Richard Hoagland told Ashraf Mumtaz and Saeed Aasi in a comprehensive dialogue at the residence of Lahore Consul General Nina Fite on Tuesday that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbours and brothers and there is no way to separate the two. The Nation.
A top American military commander is likely to visit Pakistan today (Thursday) in what is seen as a crucial development to cement the already drawn contours of closer military cooperation between the Pakistan Army and the Western military alliance against the backdrop of Islamabad’s ongoing drive against militancy in the north-western border region. The Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) Chief General John Allen is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart during his third visit to the General Headquarters in a couple of months. The Nation, Dawn, Daily Times.
Siraj Ud Din, Nawaf Khan