At previous day, at least 17 militants were killed in a military operation launched Tuesday by the Pakistani security forces in the country`s northwest tribal area of Orakzai Agency, reported local TV channel Express.
According to the report, the Pakistani army launched an airstrike in the Mamoozai area of Upper Orakzai Tuesday morning, destroying four hideouts of militants in the area apart from killing 17 militants.
Located in northwest Pakistan, Orakzai is the only tribal area in the country, which does not border Afghanistan. Last year, the Pakistani army declared victory over the fight against the militants dwelling in the area. But the fight between the army and the militants there has never ceased.
Tuesday morning`s action taken by the Pakistani army in Upper Orakzai is the first major operation of its kind launched against the militants in the country since last Friday`s visit paid by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Pakistan.
During the one-day surprise visit, Hillary urged the Pakistani side to take decisive actions against militants in the country in the coming days.
On Monday, a local media report disclosed by quoting highly-placed sources as saying that under the ever-mounting pressure of the United States the Pakistani government has decided to launch operation against the militants hiding in North Waziristan very soon.
Most of the militants hiding in North Waziristan belong to Afghanistan Taliban. They often launch attacks on the U.S.-led NATO forces and the Afghan security forces across the border, creating a big headache for the NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Local watchers believed that the Pakistani side had been slow in response to the request by the United States to launch operations in North Waziristan mainly due to the following concerns:
Firstly, the Pakistani army lack enough resources to launch a large-scale operation on the western side of the country as most of the troops are deployed on the eastern side bordering India.
Secondly, the military action taken against the militants in North Waziristan could lead to more terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Finally, maybe also most importantly, the direct confrontation with the Afghanistan Taliban will reduce the role of Pakistan in Afghanistan as Taliban can hardly be excluded from the future government of Afghanistan.
(Uu.H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
