'Planes and troops kill 44 militants in Pakistan'

{image-us air strike_21112008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Khar, Nov 21: At least 24 Taliban fighters, including 11 foreigners and one local commander, were killed in the military operation in the Bajaur Agency on Thursday, Nov 20, as warplanes pounded Taliban positions in Swat killing 20 fighters using a school building in Matta area, official sources and local residents reportedly said.

The foreign fighters killed in Bajaur were suspected to be Uzbek nationals. The Taliban casualties came when security forces targeted fighters in the Darbari, Saparai, Gatki, Bagori and Zorbandar areas of Mamoond and Nawagai tehsils of Bajaur, the Daily Tims quoted FC sources as saying. They said. 'We are making significant progress against the militants who are on the run. Taliban strongholds have been destroyed,' an ISPR spokesman said in a press release in Rawalpindi, but went on to mention that 'a few pockets of resistance remained'.

Meanwhile, according to TV channel report said that security forces had completed the deployment of Frontier Corps (FC) contingents in the tribal Mohmand Agency, and a full-scale military operation in the agency is likely after the federal government's approval.

ANI