Breaking News: Maai Mahiu tragedy: Death toll rises to 45
50 militants killed in Pakistan
Pakistani Islamists shout slogans beside a burning effigy of US pastor Terry Jones during a protest in Lahore on April 8, 2011, organised to protest the recent burning of the Koran by a US pastor in a church in Florida. The burning was carried out by pastor Wayne Sapp under the supervision of Terry Jones, who last year drew condemnation over his aborted plan to ignite a pile of the Islamic holy books to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. AFP PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Four soldiers also die in incident in a lawless tribal belt located on the Afghan border singled out for criticism in White House report
Khar, Friday
Pakistani officials said on Friday that 50 militants and four soldiers had been killed in a district where the United States this week criticised the army’s efforts to defeat Islamist insurgents.
The deaths, which could not be verified independently, were reported in Mohmand, part of Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border singled out for criticism in a White House report flatly rejected by Islamabad.
The United States has branded the northwestern tribal area, which lies outside Pakistani government control, a global headquarters of Al-Qaeda and one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
Local administration official Maqsood Hassan told AFP that militants attacked a security force patrol in the Baizai area of Mohmand, triggering an exchange of fire on Thursday.
“Four soldiers and 10 militants were killed in the attack, which was repulsed,” Hassan said.
A separate air offensive targeting militant hideouts in different areas of Mohmand killed 40 rebels on Thursday, Hassan said.
Troops used fighter jets and helicopters to pound rebel positions, he said. (AFP)
