At least five suspected militants belonging to a pro-Taliban outfit, were killed when Pakistani helicopter gunships pounded their hideouts in the volatile northwest tribal region near the Afghan border.
The gunships conducted several air sorties in parts of Tirah valley in Khyber tribal region yesterday morning, killing at least five suspected militants and destroying their hideouts and bunkers on adjoining hilltops, the Dawn reported today.
Although the military did not issue any statement about casualties, intelligence officials claimed five suspects affiliated with the banned Lashkar-i-Islam were killed.
The outfit announced an allegiance to the Taliban last month.
The aerial attacks were part of the ongoing Khyber-II operation aimed at flushing out militants from the valley.
Lashkar-i-Islam spokesperson Salahuddin Ayubi conceded the destruction of hideouts yesterday but insisted that no activist of the group had been killed. He also claimed that militants had captured two soldiers but the claims could not be verified, according to the report.
Meanwhile in South Waziristan, two soldiers lost their lives when an improvised explosive device went off near a military vehicle.
A local spokesman for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.
