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Troops kill 60 fighters in Pakistan's Swat valley
At least 60 fighters were killed and many others injured when troops backed by helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions in northwest Pakistan, the military said on Saturday.
- AP
- Published: 11:50 October 18, 2008
Islamabad: At least 60 fighters were killed and many others injured when troops backed by helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions in northwest Pakistan, the military said on Saturday.
The assault occurred on Friday evening in the Swat valley, shortly before a senior US official arrived in Pakistan for talks with leaders of a country vital to Western security concerns.
Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher held talks in Islamabad on Saturday morning with Pakistan's Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik and was expected to meet other leaders later in the day. He made no public comment.
US officials, concerned about rising militancy in both nuclear-armed Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan, have praised Pakistani efforts to clear Taliban and Al Qaida strongholds near its northwestern frontier.
An army statement said Friday's offensive killed at least 60 militants and wounded many more near the town of Matta.
It was not immediately possible to independently confirm the casualties.
The army didn't mention any losses among government
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