Eye-witnesses nail Pak Army's lie about arresting several Taliban in South Waziristan

Washington, Jan.1 (ANI): Contrary to the Pakistani army's claim of reportedly having killed four militants and arresting several others during a raid on a private hospital in South Waziristan, the Taliban's stronghold, eyewitnesses said that those who have been taken into custody were not extremists but rather hospital staff.

According to a Pakistani security official, acting on a tip-off about wounded militants being admitted to a local hospital, troops raided the hospital and killed four extremists besides apprehending several others.

"Commandos and security forces raided the hospital. Militants fired on the troops and in the gunfight, which lasted more than four hours, four militants and a woman were killed, while 27 others were arrested," the official said.

However, eyewitnesses told the BBC that "those arrested included hospital staff and patients with no apparent links to the Taliban."

The militants who were killed are believed to be of Arab and Sudanese origin.

The hospital situated in Wana, is said to be owned by an influential cleric and former parliamentarian, Maulana Noor Mohammad, who has close ties with the JUI(F), Pakistan's main religious party. (ANI)