At least 10 militants killed in fresh clash in NW Pakistan

At least 10 militants were killed Friday morning in retaliation of Pakistani security forces in troubled Lower Orakzai tribal area, northwest Pakistan, local media reported.

Militants attacked a security checkpoint in the area injuring two troops in the early morning incident, according to the private TV DAWN News.

During a trip to Orakzai and Mohmand tribal agencies at the beginning of June, Pakistani military Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kay ani declared the victory in the restive Orakzai agency over Taliban insurgency, and announced the end of the year-long operation.

However, the fresh skirmishes have dampened home-returning hopes of some 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), who had fled the area following the operation that was launched a year ago.

Orakzai is the only one of the seven agencies that does not border Afghanistan in the rugged tribal region of Pakistan. Hundreds of militants have been killed in clashes with Pakistani troops in Orakzai in the past month.

Source: Xinhua