ISLAMABAD – Security forces killed nine terrorists and apprehended another two in operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Sunday.
Two soldiers also were martyred and two injured in clashes with terrorists, ISPR said on Sunday.
On Jandola-Sararogha axis, the security forces surrounded Sararogha from three directions and operation was progressing smoothly, ISPR said, adding security forces also completed sanitisation of Zariwam and consolidated their positions around Point-1435, Point-1342, Point-1389 and Point-1290. While on Shakai-Kanigurram axis, search and clearance operation of Kanigurram commenced and 50 per cent of the town had been cleared.
Area along the road up to Biga, north of Kanigurram, has been cleared, while area northwest of Badar Algad up to Kanigram has also been cleared.
Near Asman Manza, terrorists attacked security forces check post with rockets and small arms and injured one soldier. The forces retaliated and killed four terrorists, the ISPR said. Similarly, the security forces secured Khazar Manzoor Ziarat, south of Asman Manza, and apprehended one terrorist besides recovering one machine gun along with two spare magazines.
During clearance operation at Karama, the stronghold of Uzbek militants, security forces recovered and destroyed two caches of mines, explosives, ammunition along with one medical operation theater equipped with Russian equipment and one ammunition and explosive laden vehicle.
At Patok Narai, security forces killed five terrorists, while during exchange of fire, two soldiers were martyred and one was injured. The forces also arrested one terrorist from Karwan Narai.
Similarly, on Razmak-Makeen axis, security forces surrounded Makeen from three directions and cleared Litta Sar area. Consolidation was in process.
During last 24 hours, the ISPR said, security forces also recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition during search and clearance operations along all three axes. These included 3 x 14.5mm guns with 1200 rounds, 3 x 12.7mm along with 60 ammunition boxes and 1455 rounds, 2 x Light Machine Guns and 2 light machine guns mounted vehicles; 8 x rifles 303 and 4 (mark-4) rifles, 16 x Rockets of RPG-7 with 59 rockets, 4 x 7mm rifles, 1 x SMG with 6 magazines and 500 rounds, 5 x walki talkie sets, 10 x communication sets, 6 x jammers, 1 x telescope and 2 binoculars, 1 x communication system (PATCOM Antenna), 12 x HE grenades and 24 arges grenades, 11 x fire extinguisher vehicles and 2 blasting machines, 5 x anti tank mines, 4 x heavy mortars with ammunition, 1 x missile launcher and 3 missiles from Nawaz Kot, 25 x 82 mm bombs, 1 x SPG-9 grenade launcher along with 50 rockets and 15 x Passports.
Relief activities displaced families of Waziristan were continuing in Dera Ismail Khan. According to ISPR, 7,203 cash cards have been distributed amongst the displaced families and an army field hospital has been established at Ratta Kulachi stadium at D I Khan, where 50 patients have been treated. Army Helpline and complaint cell (Telephone number 0996-740439) has also been established at D I Khan.
AFP adds: Troops fought deadly street battles in a Taliban centre and den of Uzbek fighters on Sunday, pressing a major offensive into a third week and killing nine militants.
The troops are zeroing in on two major Taliban bases in South Waziristan Agency as their offensive pushes deeper into militant bastion, the military said.
Nine militants and two soldiers were killed during SundayÂ’s fighting, the military said, taking the militantsÂ’ death toll to 331 and 38 soldiers in 16 days of fighting.
Uzbeks are the largest group among foreign militants backing Taliban fighters in Pakistan.
On Saturday, the military reported stiff resistance from Taliban holed up in bunkers and sniper men hunkered down in towers in what is one of the largest towns in South Waziristan.
Around 30,000 troops are taking part in the offensive against an estimated 10,000-12,000 militants in the semi-autonomous region. Relief workers say more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
The security forces in Kotkai discovered a 500-metre-long tunnel, which housed a suicide jacket-manufacturing factory while would-be bombers were also trained there. The tunnel connected various areas of the southern-most tribal agency.