LOC19:00
16:00 GMT
ISLAMABAD, June 30 (KUNA) -- The Pakistani military on Thursday said that
an operation is being launched against Taliban militants in Kurram tribal
agency, bordering Afghanistan, at the request of local tribesmen.
Talking to a selected group of journalists in northern Peshawar city Core
Commander Lieutenant General Asif Yaseen Malik said that a Jirga was held
before the launching of an operation in Kurram tribal agency and they
themselves demanded the military for an action against militants.
It may be mentioned here that the US had been demanding the military to
launch operation in North Waziristan tribal agency, where hundreds of
militants of Arab and Central Asian origin are believed to have been hiding.
Briefing journalists on military operation in Mohmand tribal agency, the
commander said that it has reached in its final phase and that most of the
areas had been cleared of militants.
He said that about 68 soldiers have so far been killed in different
operations and 300 were wounded. Whereas, he added, 200 militants were killed.
Earlier, Brigadier Aftab, the Operation Commander in Mohmand agency, told
newsmen that 40 militants were killed in an operation in the last few days.
(end)
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KUNA 301900 Jun 11NNNN