Soldiers conducted search and clearance operations in the areas around Kaniguram and seized weapons and explosives, including materials for making improvised explosive devices.
Seven militants were killed and two soldiers injured when Pakistani troops combating the Taliban in South Waziristan engaged rebels in an intense gun battle near their stronghold of Makeen, the military said today.
Soldiers are currently clearing Makeen and "expanding their area of domination", the military said in a statement. An "intense fire exchange" between troops and militants occurred at a newly established check post at Fort Knoll near Makeen. Troops continued strengthening their positions around the former Taliban strongholds of Sararogha and Kaniguram.
Militants fired four rockets at Sararogha from a nearby village though there were no reports of casualties. Soldiers conducted search and clearance operations in the areas around Kaniguram and seized weapons and explosives, including materials for making improvised explosive devices.
Troops also found eight tunnels containing weapons and ammunition while clearing Kaniguram. The Pakistani military says nearly 510 militants and some 44 soldiers have died so far in fighting in South Waziristan though these figures cannot be independently verified as reporters have no access to the conflict zone.
The army has mobilised over 30,000 troops backed by tanks and artillery for Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation), which was launched nearly a month ago to flush out an estimated 10,000 Taliban and foreign fighters from South Waziristan.
Security forces also continued search and clearance operations in the northwestern Swat valley, where three militants were arrested and as many surrendered to authorities.
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