Pakistani troops kill 28 militants near Afghan border

Mar 29, 2010, 18:30 GMT

   Islamabad - Pakistani troops killed at least 28 insurgents in overnight clashes in the tribal region near the Afghan border, security officials said Monday.

   The fighting took place in Orakzai tribal district, where infantry backed by tanks and artillery are targeting Taliban and al-Qaeda.

   A senior official from the paramilitary Frontier Corps, which is spearheading the offensive in the mountainous district, said troops beat back an attack on a post that injured two soldiers Monday.

   The troops killed nine 'terrorists' in the retaliatory fire, said the official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

   In a separate attack Sunday afternoon, insurgents raided a security post where 10 rebels were killed in combat, officials said. There were no reports of casualties on the army side.

   Helicopter gunships pounded several suspected militant hideouts in Chapri Ferozkhel area, killing 10 more Taliban fighters, the army said.

   Hundreds of troops launched an operation in Orakzai on Wednesday to hunt the Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters fleeing the army's assault in South Waziristan.

   The district is a major base of Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, whose destiny remains unclear after media reports that he might have died in a drone attack early this year in North Waziristan.

   The Taliban denied the reports, while Pakistani officials claimed they were certain of his death despite the lack of proof.