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| India-Pakistan |
| Bajaur battle kills 10 troops, 25 militants |
| 2008-08-08 |
| Hundreds of Taliban militants attacked a security checkpost near the Afghan border late on Wednesday, sparking fierce clashes in which up to 10 troops and 25 militants were killed, officials said on Thursday. The security forces had deployed a large force to Loyesam, 12 kilometres from the Bajaur Agency headquarters, in a bid to reclaim important nearby Taliban strongholds. An officer from the paramilitary Frontier Corps told AFP that 300-400 militants armed with AK-47 assault rifles, rocket launchers and grenades, participated in the attack. "The firing continued the whole night. This morning reinforcements were sent. One vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device on its way to the post and the convoy was then attacked by Taliban militants," the official said. "The fighting is intense and ongoing," an unidentified security official told AFP. "Up to 25 militants were killed and at least 10 Frontier Corps soldiers have also been martyred," he said. But Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Maulvi Umer told Daily Times 18 security forces personnel were killed. The casualties could not be ascertained independently. All resources: Maulvi Umar said the Taliban would use all resources to regain control of Loyesam area, very close to Afghan border. Helicopter gunships: Helicopter gunships pounded insurgent positions during the fighting, and the Taliban fired a rocket at a gunship helicopter, but could not damage it. |
| Posted by:Fred |