Five Taliban fighters were killed during a gun battle with anti-social elements at Darra Adam Khel town in Pakistan's restive North West Frontier Province on Monday. Police said the Taliban attacked the hideouts of some anti-socials at Jinnah Kor in Darra Adam Khel in a bid to "eliminate" them. They retaliated and five Taliban cadres were killed during the exchange of fire.
The incident created tension in the area. The Taliban had earlier claimed that the anti-socials were involved in "unethical and heinous" activities and warned they would take action against the elements.
The gun battle took place even as security forces continued their operations against the Taliban in Hangu district of NWFP. Curfew was relaxed in Hangu town since this morning and shops and markets were open.
Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said security forces had cleared Hangu of militants after killing 20 rebels and capturing another 60.
"At least 20 militants have been killed and 60 others captured so far in the operation as the troops managed to push militants out of the district and are now targeting them in the mountains in the north of Hangu district," Abbas said.
The army launched a crackdown in Hangu district after the Taliban killed 15 paramilitary personnel in an ambush on June 11. There have been several fierce clashes between security forces and militants, including an attack by about 120 Taliban fighters on the Frontier Corps fort at Torawarai in Hangu on Saturday night.
There were also reports of a fresh clash today between security forces and Taliban in the Swat valley in NWFP though there were no details about casualties. The Pakistan Army denied a claim by the Taliban that six security forces personnel were killed in the clash.
The Swat area had been peaceful for the past few weeks but the local Taliban had warned that they might carry out attacks if the security forces did not halt the operation in Hangu.