At least 50 alleged Taliban militants were killed Wednesday in clashes with the security forces in troubled north-western tribal areas, security officials said. The fighting occurred in Safi and Baizai areas of Mohmand district along the Afghan border, where government forces are trying to subdue al Qaeda linked Islamists.
A security official of paramilitary Frontier Corps said the army launched the operation after receiving intelligence reports that "Taliban" were preparing to launch attacks on the security forces from the area. "We have killed around 50 militants in two-days of fighting in the area," he said on the condition of anonymity. "A number of militants have also been injured in the fighting." An intelligence official said the forces have been pounding the mountainous hideouts of the rebels with gunship helicopters and artillery shells.