21 militants, one soldier killed

At least 21 militants and one soldier were killed Friday in fierce clashes between Taliban and forces in the troubled north-western region of the country, a security official said. The fighting occurred in the Ghilju region of Orakzai, one of seven tribal districts where militants affiliated with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are fighting the government forces.
An official of paramilitary Frontier Corps told dpa that the forces were passing through the area when militants launched a sudden attack, which led to heavy firefight. "Our troops retailed the attack and killed 21 attackers," the official said on condition of anonymity. "But one of our soldiers was also killed and 22 other injured in the gun battle." TTP is an umbrella organisation of over a dozen militant outfits operating in different parts of the lawless border region with Afghanistan.