At least 55 militants were killed in Pakistan military air strikes and a gun battle with the Army in the volatile northwest tribal region where a major offensive to wipe out terrorists is on, officials said on Saturday.
“Troops raided a militant hideout on Friday in an area adjoining Orakzai and Khyber tribal districts… where the insurgents had gathered for a meeting,” a military statement said. “An intense battle took place, in which 16 terrorists were killed and 20 injured,” it added.
However, media reports said the gun battle broke out after militants attacked the check posts in Shindara and Khazana Kandao in Orakzai Agency early this morning and Pakistani troops repulsed the assault.
Meanwhile, 39 militants, including two terrorist commanders, were killed in air strikes by Pakistani fighter jets in the restive Dattakhel area.
End executions: Ban
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Pakistan government to bring an end to the executions of convicts and re-impose a moratorium on the death penalty.
Mr. Ban’s appeal follows Pakistan’s recent decision to lift a six-year moratorium on the use of the death penalty following this month’s terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar which claimed the lives of 150 people, mostly children.
