PARACHINAR: A government official said on Friday the Pakistan Army had killed at least nine suspected terrorists in the countryÂ’s northwest tribal region near the Afghan border. Muhammed Yasin said the military had used helicopter gunships to destroy three Taliban hideouts in Orakzai Agency.Many Taliban fighters are believed to have fled to Orakzai since the army launched a major offensive against them in South Waziristan Agency in October.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has also hinted that the army would pursue a full-scale offensive in Orakzai. Official sources in Islamabad said that the prime ministerÂ’s remarks did not mean the army was being recalled from South Waziristan Agency.
Orakzai Agency lies north of South and North Waziristan tribal regions.