Clashes in tribal Pakistan leave 16 dead
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Friday, 24 March: 13.40 CET) – One Pakistani soldier was killed and at least 15 militants were reported dead in Friday clashes near Pakistan’s tribal North Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan.
Fighting erupted when gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked a Pakistani military post in the region killing one soldier and wounding four others, according to news agency reports.
The gunmen were pursued and ensuing clashes left between 15 and 20 insurgents dead, the Pakistani military said in a statement.
According to military officials, weapons and ammunition from the militants, many of whom managed to escape.
Fierce clashes between security forces and militants have taken place for weeks in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region.
On Friday, the Pakistani Interior Ministry said that at least 120 government supporters and security forces had been killed in the region since the first military operation was launched on 1 March.
Pakistani officials say North Waziristan is a base for the Taliban militants from across the border in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s military president General Pervez Musharraf warned “foreign militants suspected of operating in North Waziristan to leave the country or be crushed”.
A large number of al-Qaida militants and their allies are believed to have fled to Pakistan’s tribal regions after US-led forces ousted them from Afghanistan in 2001.
Fighting erupted when gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked a Pakistani military post in the region killing one soldier and wounding four others, according to news agency reports.
The gunmen were pursued and ensuing clashes left between 15 and 20 insurgents dead, the Pakistani military said in a statement.
According to military officials, weapons and ammunition from the militants, many of whom managed to escape.
Fierce clashes between security forces and militants have taken place for weeks in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region.
On Friday, the Pakistani Interior Ministry said that at least 120 government supporters and security forces had been killed in the region since the first military operation was launched on 1 March.
Pakistani officials say North Waziristan is a base for the Taliban militants from across the border in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s military president General Pervez Musharraf warned “foreign militants suspected of operating in North Waziristan to leave the country or be crushed”.
A large number of al-Qaida militants and their allies are believed to have fled to Pakistan’s tribal regions after US-led forces ousted them from Afghanistan in 2001.
posted by Marko at 3/24/2006 07:20:00 AM
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