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Pakistan military kills more than 30 militants in over night clashes
Military jets and artillery pounded suspected militant hide-outs in two towns in Pakistan's northwest, killing 27 fighters, officials said.
- AP
- Published: 07:48 June 22, 2009
Islambad: Military jets and artillery pounded suspected militant hide-outs in two towns in Pakistan's northwest, killing 27 fighters, officials said.
As the violence raged Sunday, President Asif Alil Zardari claimed the entire country backs the battle against the extremists.
The military has stepped up strikes in the past week on suspected militant bases in Bajur, where violence has spiked again almost five months after the military declared victory after a monthslong offensive.
Two local government officials, Iqbal Khan and Nawaz Khan, said bombs dropped from planes on targets in Salarzai town killed 13 militants. In nearby Charmang, shelling killed 14 militants, the officials said.
Ejaz Ahmed, police chief in the Upper Dir region, said the fighting occurred late Saturday night near the village of Patrak, about four miles (seven kilometers) east of Dir Khas, the region's main town and district headquarters.
The report could not immediately be confirmed due to military restrictions on media access to the area.
In the most striking example of growing anti-Taliban sentiment, up to 1,600 tribesmen in Upper Dir cleared three villages of Taliban fighters two weeks ago, killing at least six militants.
Zardari said the military has been successful against the Taliban because Pakistan's people are backing the troops.
"The operations before this were not successful because they did not have a public support," Zardari said in a speech marking what would have been the 56th birthday of his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated 18 months ago.
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