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30 militants killed in northwestern Pakistan

Other News Materials 15 September 2009 03:50 (UTC +04:00)

Attacks by government troops and a US drone have killed at least 30 pro-Taliban militants, leaving several others injured in northwestern Pakistan, Press TV reported.

A missile allegedly fired on Monday by an unmanned US aircraft targeted a vehicle believed to be carrying pro-Taliban insurgents in the North Waziristan tribal district, near the Afghan border.

Four militants were killed in the attack five others were wounded.

According to a statement issued by the Pakistani army on the same day, government security forces in the Charbagh area killed 4 militants, including two commanders identified as Maqbool and Shaukat, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Security forces also killed eight insurgents on the Jholagram-Kalangi road, where one soldier was also injured. In the Kuz Bamakhela area near Matta one militant was reported to have been killed and three others were arrested while one soldier was also killed.

During another operation by security forces in a cave at Manasar near Gat, two militants were killed. In Dir, one insurgent was killed while one explosive-laden vest and one improvised explosive device (IED) were recovered.

In related activities, local security officials told Press TV that government forces pounded militant hideouts in the Sarwekai and Kotkai areas in South Waziristan Agency, killing 10 militants, including a key commander, and injuring several others.

Ten houses used by the militants and five shops were also destroyed during the operation.

Also on Monday, at least 14 policemen were injured in a remotely-detonated bomb attack in Mansehra city of Hazra Division in northwest Pakistan.

District Police Officer Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur told Press TV that the bomb, planted by the side of a road, went off when a police van was passing.

The van was carrying prisoners from the Central Mansehra Jail to Abbottabad court.

The injured were transferred to the Ayub Medical Complex, in Abbottabad. Three of the injured policemen are said to be in critical condition.

Pakistan's tribal region is considered a redoubt for al-Qaeda-linked and pro-Taliban militants, who use the rugged terrain to plan and launch attacks.

So far over 2,000 militants and 200 soldiers have been killed in the clashes, according to a Pakistani army report.

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