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21 militants killed in NW Pakistan

16 December 2011 19:04 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least 21 militants were killed in two separate incidents in Pakistan’s northwest tribal area of Orakzai on Friday, reported local Urdu TV channel Duniya, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to the report, 15 militants were killed in a clash with the security forces in the Khanki area of Upper Orakzai earlier on Friday.

The clashes broke out when an estimated 50 heavily armed militants launched an attack on a check post of the security forces in the afore-said area, said the report, adding that the security forces also suffered dearly as 21 security personnel were injured in the clashes.

In another separate incident, the security forces launched an attack on a militant hideout in the Khadezai area of Upper Orakzai after one soldier was killed in a landmine blast.

The soldier was killed after he stepped on a landmine planted by militants by the roadside, said the report.

In retaliation, the security forces launched a heavy artillery shelling at a militant hideout in the nearby area, killing at least six militants, the report said.

Orakzai is the only one among the seven tribal areas in northwest Pakistan, that does not border Afghanistan. Last year the Pakistani army launched a major military operation in Orakzai and regained a control over the area. However, militants coming from the neighbouring tribal areas of Khyber Agency and Kurram Agency have regrouped in the area in recent time. Over the last couple of months, clashes between militants and the security forces in the area were frequently reported.