Islamabad - Pakistani security forces on Friday killed at least nine Taliban militants in a clash in the country's lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border, an army spokesman said. "In the Bajaur tribal district today, a militants' attack in Rashkai area was successfully repulsed. Nine militants were killed and around a dozen more injured,' Major Murad Khan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Militants' hideouts at Damadola and Loe Sam areas were also engaged with gunship helicopters and artillery fire. Heavy casualties are reported to be inflicted on insurgents but the exact losses are not ascertained yet, he added.
The clashes in Bajaur, a known sanctuary of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters, have been going on since August when scores of militants attacked a checkpoint on a strategic hilltop along a route used by militants to cross into Afghanistan and attack international forces.
Around 800 militants have been killed in the fighting, according to official data. But it does not include civilian casualties, which remain unaccounted for because of the difficult geographical and security situation of the area.
