Two Soliders, Five Militants Killed İn Pakistan

Two Pakistani soldiers, five militants and two civilians were killed in two separate attacks in northwestern Pakistan's Khyber Agency Wednesday, a security official said.



Two Pakistani soldiers and five militants were killed in clashes in Bara, which is the second largest town in Khyber tribal area. Three Pakistan Army soldiers were also injured in the incident, the official said.



The clashes occurred when security forces launched a search operation in the area after a three-day government deadline for militants to surrender ended.



Two civilians were also killed and 10 others were injured in a separate attack when two mortar shells hit a mosque and a house in Bara Wednesday evening, the security official confirmed.



Last Sunday, militants loyal to the Taliban-affiliated Lashkar-e-Islam group were warned that if they did not surrender, a military operation would be launched against them.



When the militants did not pay heed to the warning, security forces extended the "Khyber One" operation to Bara, the security official added.



Mohammad Azam, a resident of Bara, told Anadolu Agency via telephone that heavy contingents of troops were in the town backed by Armored Personnel Carriers and helicopters.



"Both sides are using heavy weaponry, including mortars that created panic and fear in the town," Azam said. He added that security forces had blocked all entry and exit points to the town.



Azam said people were ready to leave the town, but the curfew imposed in the area was hindering their movement.



Last week, over 30 suspected militants were killed in airstrikes in Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley.



Pakistan Army's "Khyber One" military operation is an extension of the "Zarb-e-Azm" campaign launched on June 15 to flush out militants operating in the nearby North Waziristan tribal area.



The army claims more than 1,300 militants of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan militant network have been killed since the operation began. Nearly 100 soldiers have also been reportedly killed. The figures could not be independently verified. 



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