Foreign fighters among 31 militants killed in Pakistan

As the army expanded their operations against terrorists in the restive South Waziristan, the stronghold of Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, the military said on Sunday that 31 militants, including some foreign fighters, were killed in retaliatory air strikes.

Thirty-one militants, including a few foreigners, were killed and 50 more injured at Makeen in South Waziristan Agency in air strikes carried out by jets of the Pakistan Air Force since Saturday.

The air strikes were launched in retaliation for two suicide attacks on the compound of Jamia Naeemia in Lahore and a mosque inside the cantonment in northwestern Nowshera city. Anti-Taliban scholar Sarfraz Naeemi and four security personnel were among those killed in the suicide attacks.

Reports have said that Pakistani ground forces are now planning to mount a major push into South Waziristan, the stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Mehsud. A US drone strike at Makeen on Sunday killed at least five persons.

On Tuesday, Pakistani security forces had moved into Bannu in the North West Frontier Province following reportsthat up to 800 militants from North Waziristan had gathered there to carry out attacks across the country. Scores of Taliban fighters have been killed so far in Bannu. 

A militant was killed by security forces during an operation to clear Zindi Falak Sher village in Janikhel area of Bannu. The troops were fired at by militants hiding in two houses. They returned fire and the body of a militant was later recovered in one of the houses.

In the troubled Swat valley, a security personnel was killed and three more were injured in an exchange of fire with militants during consolidation and search operations at Kabal. Another security personnel was injured in firing by militants at Kalla Kalle area.

Troops conducted consolidation and search operations at Godhand Banda, Arkot Qila and Chuprial and reopened the Wainai-Sijbant road. Security forces also consolidated their positions on heights east of Chuprial.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from tunnels built by militants in the area.

Cordon and search operations were carried out at Loe Namal, Kuz Shaur and Matta, where troops moved from house to house looking for Taliban fighters.

The Pakistani military claims over 1,400 militants have been killed since operations were launched last month against the Taliban in Swat and nearby areas. Over 110 soldiers have also been killed in the fighting.

The army has also mounted extensive relief efforts for the more than 2.5 million people displaced by the fighting. A total of 200 families of displaced people were shifted from Besham to Kalam, which has been secured by troops.