Pak military pound Taliban hideouts in tribal belt

ISLAMABAD: Warplanes and artillery pounded Taliban hideouts in Pakistan's unruly tribal belt in preparation for an assault on the stronghold of militant commander Baitullah Mehsud as over 50 rebels were killed, including seven by local anti-Taliban militia.

Forty-one militants, including Uzbeks, Tajiks and Arabs, were killed when jets and gunship helicopters targeted militant positions in the Malakand division and Bajaur tribal region's several villages of Chaharmang and Salarzai sub-districts, officials said.

In Upper Dir district, a 'lashkar' or tribal militia killed seven militants and injured another during a two-hour gun battle late last night. Police said the militants were killed while trying to flee from the area. Several lashkars were formed in Upper Dir after a suicide attack on a mosque two weeks ago that was blamed on the Taliban.

The air strikes destroyed several militant hideouts.

Six militants were killed and 10 were captured during an "intense engagement and heavy exchange of fire" with security forces at Biha Valley, south of Chuprial, in Swat.

Troops seized 20 small machine guns, a dozen 12 bore rifles, a G-3 rifle, two rocket launchers, grenades and 6,000 rounds of ammunition following the skirmish.

Reports said troops captured a strategic mountain peak located between Peochar and Biha Valley that was being used as a base by militants. The rebels were also targeting security forces from the peak.

Another militant was killed and six were captured during an exchange of fire at Langer in Khwazakhela, a former Taliban stronghold in Swat. Fifteen small machine guns, a sniper rifle, an 8mm rifle, communication sets and grenades were sized from the rebels.

Five soldiers were injured when militants ambushed a security forces vehicle on the Dakorak-Allahbad road in Swat.

Artillery continued pounding militant positions and hideouts in South Waziristan. Since June 19, artillery and air strikes have been carried out on at least 50 Taliban hideouts.

About 50 militants were killed when jets pounded a training camp, two compounds and three seminaries on June 19.

Another 32 militants died in strikes on June 21, reports said.

Two rockets fired by militants landed near the Frontier Corps camp in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan. Troops then closed all markets and roads in the town and sealed the area. People in Bannu district of North West Frontier Province were warned by authorities not to shelter militants fleeing South Waziristan.