EGP declines vs. USD at Thursday's close    Euro area inflation rises to 2.0% in October '24 – flash estimates    IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO SMOKES, GIVE THEM THE FACTS    Asian stocks slide as chip sector weakens    Egypt's Minister of Environment highlights biodiversity issues at COP16    Egypt's Agriculture Minister meets Syrian, Bahraini counterparts to boost cooperation in Amman    Al-Qassam Brigades targets Israeli vehicles in eastern Gaza    ACUD, DP World, and GAFI sign MoU to develop free zone in New Capital    Egyptian government encourages increased mutual investment with Bahrain: Finance Minister    A Tale of Two Cities: Alexandria hosts 2nd edition of exhibition celebrating Greek, Egyptian cultural ties    Egypt, Djibouti leaders discuss strengthening ties, regional issues    Egypt's FM affirms commitment to Sahel security, offers support to Niger    Egyptian banking sector support underprivileged communities in Alexandria – CBE    Afghanistan signs $163m deal for cement plant    US tightens tech investment rules for China    Biden unveils $3b investment to strengthen US port infrastructure    Military Production, Environment Ministers inaugurate banana fiber recycling plant    Luxor Museum to host exhibition on 19th century antiquities inspection tours    Nourhan Kamal Wins 2024 Helmi Sharawy Award for African Studies    Egypt observes Intl. E-waste Day, highlights recycling efforts    Egypt's military capabilities sufficient to defend country: Al-Sisi    Al-Sisi emphasises water security is Egypt's top priority amid Nile River concerns    Cairo Opera House hosts grand opening of Arab Music Festival, Conference    Grand Egyptian Museum ready for partial trial run on October 16: PM    Colombia unveils $40b investment plan for climate transition    Kabaddi: Ancient Indian sport gaining popularity in Egypt    Ecuador's drought forces further power cuts    Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul after Paris Olympics    Basketball Africa League Future Pros returns for 2nd season    Egypt joins Africa's FEDA    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    Who leads the economic portfolios in Egypt's new Cabinet?    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pakistan army kills 18 militants as fighting rages
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 30 - 08 - 2012

PESHAWAR - Pakistani security forces killed 18 Taliban militants on Thursday in Bajaur region, a military official said, in the fourth straight day of fighting which has cast doubt on the effectiveness of crackdowns on militant groups.
Pakistan's military, one of the largest in the world, has launched a series of offensives against the Taliban over the past few years in Bajaur and other parts of the ethnic Pashtun tribal belt in the northwest near the Afghan border.
On Wednesday, Taliban militants attacked an army post and killed eight soldiers in the South Waziristan tribal region. Military sources said four soldiers have been killed in the Bajaur fighting and several went missing.
Pakistan has said military operations have severely weakened the militants, and their fighters have been cleared out of Bajaur and other regions along the porous border.
The military, which has declared victory in those areas, said the militants killed on Thursday included two commanders from the Taliban branch that controlled the Swat Valley, before an army offensive cleared the group from there in 2009.
Their presence in Bajaur underscores how militants simply melt away when the military steps up pressure and turn up elsewhere to press on with their violent campaign to topple the US-backed government.
The commander who led the Taliban in Swat, Fazlullah, fled to Afghanistan and has been orchestrating cross-border raids against Pakistani security forces, sending hundreds of fighters at a time to stage deadly ambushes and attacks on army posts.
Pakistan, a strategic US ally, has been trying to break the back of its homegrown Taliban for several years. But the militants have proven resilient, staging suicide bombings and other attacks on the military and police.
This month, militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons fought their way into one of Pakistan's largest air bases in a brazen challenge to thenuclear-armed country's powerful military.
Pakistan's Taliban, who are close to al Qaeda, allied with the Afghan Taliban and seen as the biggest security threat to Pakistan, claimed responsibility for that assault.
Pakistan faces a wide range of militant groups whose aims range from toppling the state to attacking religious minorities like Shi'ites.
Sectarian tensions have been running high in the northwestern town of Gilgit, where on Aug. 16 gunmen ambushed three buses carrying Shi'ites, forced passengers out and shot 22 of them dead.


Clic here to read the story from its source.