Pakistan launches military offensive against militants
July 4th, 2011 - 12:24 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, July 4 (IANS) Pakistan has launched a military offensive against militants in a valley located in its northwest.
The operation was initiated Sunday in Kurram Agency, forcing families to flee the area, Dawn reported Monday.
About a fortnight back, the government had notified 80 sq km of the area in central Kurram as a conflict zone.
Kurram is located close to Tora Bora, considered a stronghold of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
The report said that militants from Waziristan and other parts of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have set up base in central Kurram.
Informed sources said troops had had been air-dropped and army and paramilitary forces were conducting the joint operation.
Pakistan has been hit by a string of terror strikes, specially after the gunning down of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden May 2 in Abbottabad city.
- Osama did not escape to Pakistan, but headed north: GITMO documents - Apr 26, 2011
- TTP says Osama bin Laden alive - May 02, 2011
- Raid to kill Laden in Pak was planned to minimize collateral damage: US officials - May 02, 2011
- Pakistan arrested over 3,000 terrorists in three years - Aug 04, 2011
- Osama must have moved to Abbottabad recently: Pakistani envoy - May 02, 2011
- Four killed, five injured in Pak bomb blast - May 02, 2011
- 14 militants killed in Pakistan's tribal region - Jul 19, 2011
- Osama death: Zardari, Gilani, Pak security chiefs in emergency talks - May 02, 2011
- Mosque bomb kills 4 in central Pakistan - May 02, 2011
- Bomb attack strikes U.S. Consulate vehicles in Pakistan - May 20, 2011
- Pak security forces foil terror plan in Hangu, recover explosive-laden vehicle - Dec 25, 2010
- Senior Al Qaeda operative held in Pakistan - May 18, 2011
- US, Pakistan struck deal on Osama raid in 2001 - May 10, 2011
- Laden's death near Islamabad will cause tension between US, Pakistan: Expert - May 02, 2011
- At least eight militants killed in Pak's Kurram Agency - Mar 31, 2011
Tags: afghanistan, al qaeda, army, conflict zone, dawn, fata, fortnight, islamabad, july 4, khyber, militants, osama bin laden, pakistan, paramilitary forces, qaeda leader, stronghold, terror strikes, tribal area, waziristan