More than 60 militants have been killed in fighting between government troops and militants in north-western Pakistan, officials say. Fighting broke out when troops in Mohmand district attacked some villages where militants were said to be hiding. Troops used artillery guns, helicopter gunships and jets to pound the area. Pakistan has deployed thousands of troops to police its tribal regions, but Western and Afghan officials say that has not deterred militants. Mortar shells A statement of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) on Tuesday evening said more than 60 "hardcore militants" had been killed in the day-long operation.
Residents reached by the BBC could not confirm the numbers, but said some militants had been killed. They said at least three civilians were also killed when a restaurant was hit by mortar shells. The targeted villages, located in the Lakaro and Pandyali sub-districts, are believed to be the stronghold of militants in Mohmand region. Earlier this month, suspected militants killed six paramilitary soldiers in pre-dawn attacks on some check posts in the nearby Mamad Ghat area of Mohmand. The army at that time said the attack was launched by more than 600 militants, mostly foreigners, who had crossed over from Afghanistan. It said it had killed 45 militants in retaliatory fire. The communications infrastructure in Mohmand has been badly damaged and it is difficult to obtain independent confirmation of such claims.
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