The military has entered an important phase in its operation against Al Qaeda and its tribal facilitators, military sources said on Saturday, adding that the key town of Sararogha had been surrounded and Kaniguram was being cleared of terrorists.An Inter-Services Pulic Relations (ISPR) statement said 33 terrorists had been killed in the decisive battle for control of the Mehsud mainland and four army personnel had been injured. "Security forces have entered Sararogha," the statement said. "The town has been surrounded from all three entry points. All the key positions and ridges around Sararogha have been taken over by security forces," it said.
"During the process of moving forward, intense exchanges of fire took place. Thirteen terrorists have been killed. The military will begin its clearance operation of Sararogha in the next 24 hours. There is a substantial presence of terrorists in the town," ISPR Director General Maj Gen Athar Abbas said. By being on the brink of controlling both Sararogha and Kaniguram -- the two main Mehsud towns where terrorists held great sway -- the military appears to be moving ahead of schedule. Also, advancing from the Shakai side, the military captured Karama village, a training centre of Uzbek militants.
Separately, the military cleared Nawazkot of terrorists and moved onto the outskirts of Makeen.
Disarray: The military said intelligence intercepts had revealed the terrorists were in disarray and were disorganised. It said the loss of important areas; confiscation of major weapons, ammunition and ration dumps had lowered their morale to a great extent, with several cases of desertion also being reported.