RAWALPINDI: Pak Army has claimed of killing 143 militants in last 24 hours of ongoing operation in Swat, Buner and Lower Dir districts, reports ARY OneWorld.
Army also announced to continue its ongoing operation in Swat till the restoration of peace and cleaning the area from militants, army spokesman said here Friday.
“Army has been called to help civil administration in Swat and now the operation against militants is underway with full swing,” Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told media persons in a briefing.
“According to an estimate near 4,000 militants are present in Swat,” Abbas said on a query, adding that the militants are using civilians in the area as human-shield.
In Friday’s action, army has captured Khuwazakhela and Chamkali and the two towns have been wiped out from militants. Five miscreants and one soldier were killed in the operation, he said.
Thirteen militants were killed in an encounter with security forces Thursday at Matta Police Station.
In Kalpanai area of Buner, 6 militants were killed and two others were arrested on Thursday.
Search operation in Lower Dir is underway where 10 militants -- including Kifaytaullah, son of Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad -- were killed on Thursday, Abbas said.
Army spokesman declared that Army would remain present in the operation-affected areas until the civil administration fully assumed its functions, writ of the government and peace restored.
He said that military’s gunship helicopters also destroyed militants’ hideouts and training camps in various areas. |
