TANK: The army killed 20 Taliban on the fourth day of Operation Rah-e-Nijat against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in South Waziristan, the military said on Tuesday, as troops intensified the battle for control of Kotkai. The Taliban claimed they killed seven soldiers in an attack, but the army said only four soldiers had been killed in the assault on positions around Kotkai – the hometown of TTP leader Hakeemullah Mehsud and trainer of suicide bombers Qari Hussain. The Taliban casualties have taken the death toll to 91 since the launch of the operation on October 16. “We are consolidating our positions around Kotkai, and control of this town will pave the way for deeper advances towards Makeen and other strongholds of the Taliban,” said military officials.
They said troops battling their way into Kotkai were facing resistance from the Taliban. “Fierce fighting going with the Taliban is in progress... we have to take full control of the town before we move deeper into Taliban territory,” said the officials.
An ISPR statement said security forces were consolidating their positions on Jandola, and extending a security perimeter around Kaskai and Shisanwam. It said Taliban from surrounding heights were engaging forces with rockets and small arms. The army said important heights surrounding Sherwangi had also been secured, and “Taliban are abandoning their positions”. Troops also seized arms and ammunition during the course of the operation’s fourth day. Long-range artillery, helicopter gunships and jet fighters are backing ground troops in the operation, fleeing residents told reporters in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
Meanwhile, the Taliban warned Mehsud elders against support to the military. “We call on Mehsud leaders not to support or speak in favour of the government. If any Mehsud tribesman collaborates with the government or speaks in their favour, stern action will be taken against them,” Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told BBC.