10 Taliban insurgents killed as Pak jets bombard Orakzai

Lahore, June 15(ANI): At least 10 Taliban insurgents were killed and six other injured when Pakistani fighter jets bombarded militant hideouts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)'s Orakzai Agency.

According to reports, the Pakistan Air Force' fighter jets targeted several Taliban hideouts in Shahdala, Ghandai Mela, Badam Kiley and Nek Kot areas of the Orakzai Agency.

Three hideouts of terrorists were also destroyed during the bombardment in the Upper Orakzai Agency, The Daily Times reports.

Earlier this month, the Pakistan Army had claimed that its offensive in the Orakzai region has been successful, and that people who were displaced due to the military operation could return to their home.

It was also reported that during its operation, the armed forces had killed around 1,300 insurgents and destroyed 250 hideouts of terrorists.

However, locals said that the battle was far from over, as extremists were still holding a large part of the agency.

An Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesperson Major General Athar Abbas also admitted that the war was not over yet.

"The operation in Orakzai was almost over, but stabilisation operations may continue.The consolidation phase has begun and the clearance of population areas will follow soon," Abbas said.

He said that the Taliban fighters were offering "quite stiff" resistance and that it is necessary to use air power, as it "is hard for ground troops to attack Taliban positions on mountain tops." (ANI)