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Clashes leave 15 dead in NW Pakistan

19 August 2010 21:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least 14 militants and one soldier have been killed during clashes between security forces and militants in Orakzai Agency in northwest of Pakistan, APA reports quoting Press TV.

On Thursday, militants attacked a security forces’ check post in the Tapu region in Orakzai Agency, killing one soldier and injuring another.

Security forces killed at least 14 militants in a retaliatory attack and also destroyed two militant hideouts.

The Pakistani army began military operations in Orakzai Agency in March.

According to military sources, over 600 militants have been killed over the past month in the region.

However, there has been no independent verification of the claim. The militants dispute the figures cited by the Pakistani military.

Orakzai Agency, which is one of the country’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, is believed to be a stronghold of pro-Taliban militants.

Nearly 4,000 people have been killed in militant attacks throughout Pakistan since July 2007.