50 percent area of Orakzai cleared of militants

HANGU: A top military official Wednesday said that the security forces had cleared 50 percent area of Orakzai Agency from militants.
Speaking at a function here, Operation Commander Hangu and Orakzai Agency Brigadier Muhammad Jilani said the return process of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their native areas would be started once the area was cleared of militants.
Senator Najmul Hassan, Political Agent Orakzai Zubair Khan, Deputy Commissioner Hangu Naeem Anwar Sadozai, Commanding Officer Tirah Colonel Atif and a number of maliks and tribal elders were present on the occasion.
He said the landmines and improvised explosives devices planted by the militants in upper parts of Orakzai subdivision caused the delay in the repatriation of the IDPs. “The militants have heavily mined the area,” he added.
He said it would take the forces another four to five months to clear the area of landmines and IEDs.He said the forces had also cleared 50 percent area of the Khyber Agency of militants and operation was continuing to clear the rest of the territory.
Political Agent Orakzai Zubair Khan said that a survey would be carried out to assess the losses caused to properties and other installations and compensation would be provided to the owners.