World | Pakistan
Pakistan military kill 50 militants in clashes in northwest
At least 50 militants and 10 soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours, as Pakistani troops stepped up an offensive against Islamist militant strongholds in the Swat Valley, the military said on Sunday.
- Agencies
- Published: 11:43 August 24, 2008
Mingora: At least 50 militants and 10 soldiers were killed in the past 24 hours, as Pakistani troops stepped up an offensive against Islamist militant strongholds in the Swat Valley, the military said on Sunday.
Helicopter gunships targeted militant hideouts in an effort to curb growing violence in the restive northwest.
The clashes erupted after militants attacked a security patrol and a suicide car bomber killed eight policemen elsewhere in the valley.
"Fighting is still going on. We hit and destroyed over 40 militants' bunkers and a training camp," said Major Nasir Ali, military spokesman in the region.
"We have confirmed reports that 50 militants were killed while 10 of our soldiers were martyred."
Ali said the number of militants' deaths could be higher as many bodies had been taken away.
Seven villagers were killed and three wounded in mortar bombings which have continued since Saturday, residents said.
Suspected militants killed and dumped bodies of four men on the roadside in a village, police said, adding the hands and legs of them were tied with rope.
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