Four soldiers, 11 militants killed in Waziristan clashes

MIRANSHAH: Four soldiers were killed and five others were injured when militants opened fire on the security forces in the Ladha subdivision of South Waziristan tribal region on Saturday, official sources said.
According to sources, the militants attacked the security forces deployed in the part of the mountainous Shawal valley located in South Waziristan with heavy weapons.
They said four soldiers died on the spot while five others suffered serious bullet injuries. Those killed were identified as Naib Subedar Sadiq, Lance Naik Ghulam Hussain, Naik Baryal, and Sepoy Nauman Farooq.
Subedar Riaz, Naib Subedar Ismail, Havaldar Mehran Ali, Sepoy Rizwan and Sepoy Zainul Abideen were injured in the attack.
This is the second time the security forces have come under attack in the same area in less than two weeks and have suffered losses.
The sources said the troops later conducted search operations in the area but no arrests were made.
The militants after fleeing the populated areas in South Waziristan and North Waziristan due to the military operations have reportedly established sanctuaries in the forested Shawal valley. They have been using Shawal to plan attacks on the security forces and government installations.
INP adds: Eleven militants were killed in clashes in North and South Waziristan tribal agencies on Saturday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces conducted an operation against the terrorists in the area bordering North and South Waziristan agencies during which clashes took place with the militants. Eleven militants were killed in the clash and others fled the scene leaving behind the bodies of their accomplices.