Security forces kill nine militants in Hangu

HANGU: Nine militants were killed when Pakistan armed forces’ gunship helicopters pounded militants’ hideouts in Hangu, Geo News reported Saturday.

According to the sources, shelling by security forces’ gunship helicopters destroyed militants’ compounds and killed nine militants including three key terrorists in various areas of Tehsil Tal.

Four gunship helicopters took part in the operation, sources added.

It may be mentioned that Pakistani jets bombed militants’ hideouts in a northwestern tribal district early Thursday, killing at least 35 militants, including local and foreign terrorists.

The aircraft bombarded suspected militant hideouts in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan as part of surgical strikes which they said should not be taken as military operation.

Sources said that the first strike killed commander Abdul Sattar when his compound was targetted by the jets followed by the series of strikes on Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik and Taliban hideouts.

The decision to conduct air strikes in North Waziristan was taken by the military leadership after the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The decision over the attacks on militant hideouts in North Waziristan was made after three consecutive days of meetings between the government and military leadership.

However, the government is still in favour of continuing the dialogue process and the committee was directed to make contact with the Taliban after they stop their terror activities.

At least 172 people including personnel of police and army were martyred in 19 days during which dialogue between the government and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) committees went on.