More NATO trucks torched in Pakistan

Press TV, Sunday, October 24, 2010, 5:2PM

A firefighter tries to extinguish burning NATO oil tankers in Pakistan. Militants (Taliban fighters are referred to by Press TV as militants) in southwest Pakistan have set fire to at least two vehicles carrying supplies for the US-led foreign troops in neighboring Afghanistan.

Local police officials say gunmen torched the trucks in two separate incidents in Balochistan Province.

NATO's supply line has come under frequent attacks in Pakistan in recent weeks.

Dozens of NATO supply tankers and trucks have been set on fire in Pakistan this month.

Pro-Taliban militants claim responsibility for such attacks, arguing that the assaults are in retaliation for non-UN-sanctioned US strikes on Pakistan's tribal region.

JR/PKH/MMN

6 militants killed in NW Pakistan

press TV, Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:5AM

As Islamabad steps up efforts aimed at boosting security in the country, security forces say they have killed at least six militants in operations carried out in northwest Pakistan.

Pakistani officials told Press TV that the country's security forces carried out military operations against Taliban-linked militant hideouts in different parts of Swat Valley and Mohmand Agency.

The security forces on Saturday pounded militant hideouts in Orakzai Agency in northwest Pakistan and at least twelve militants were killed and eight others wounded during the strikes.

On Friday, a strike by helicopter gunships also left at least 18 suspected militants dead and 10 others injured in Orakzai and Kurram Agencies.

Pakistani security forces began the airstrikes in Orakzai Agency after militants attacked a security convoy with a roadside bomb on Friday morning. At least seven soldiers lost their lives in the incident.

Escalating violence continues to claim lives in Pakistan and thousands of civilians have been killed in attacks across the country.

The Pakistani army has launched several operations in the northwest in a bid to flush out pro-Taliban militants from its tribal zone.

The army believes that the militants have shifted their operations from Waziristan and the Orakzai Agency to the Kurram Agency.

MSH/ZHD/HRF

12 militants killed in NW Pakistan

Press TV, Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:57AM

At least twelve militants have been killed and eight others wounded during two strikes carried out by Pakistani security forces in Orakzai Agency in northwest Pakistan.

Military helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts in the tribal area on Saturday morning, killing twelve militants and injuring eight others, security officials told Press TV.

"Two hideouts of militants were also destroyed in the bombardment," the officials further explained.

On Friday, a strike by helicopter gunships also killed at least 18 militants and injured 10 others in Orakzai and Kurram Agencies.

Security forces began the airstrikes in Orakzai Agency after militants attacked a security forces' convoy with a roadside bomb on Friday morning. At least seven soldiers lost their lives in the incident.

It's the third bomb attack targeting Pakistani forces in the country's northwestern regions.

Pakistan is struggling with violence and repeated attacks in which thousands of people have lost their lives.

The Pakistani army has launched several operations in the Northwest in a bid to flush out pro-Taliban militants from its tribal zone.

The army believes that the militants have shifted their operations from Waziristan and the Orakzai Agency to the Kurram Agency.

Militant attacks and political unrest have claimed the lives of over 4,000 people throughout Pakistan since 2007.

Meanwhile, the country has witnessed recurrent non-UN-sanctioned US drone attacks, which have also caused an increasing number of civilian casualties.

Since August 2008, approximately a thousand people have been killed in about 100 attacks by US drones in tribal areas of Pakistan. Over 90 percent of the victims have been civilians.

DB/TG/HRF