20 July 2004	Tuesday	02 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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PESHAWAR/WANA, July 19: Three militants are killed in the ongoing clashes between the army troops and militants in the South Waziristan tribal region, says a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The statement, which confirmed that five civilians had been killed during the past two days, said six militants had been wounded in the clashes. Meanwhile, unofficial reports suggested that the Monday clashes had claimed the life of two soldiers and an Afghan refugee.

Officials in Peshawar said that the army had intensified action against militants and advanced towards the forested Bosh Ghar area situated on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

They said that the security forces had set up their first base station in the Khamrang area near the border area and fresh contingents were being sent to reinforce the troops there.

At least six soldiers and one Afghan refugee were also reported to have been wounded in the ongoing clashes between the security forces and militants, some 30 kilometres North of Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan Agency. Army's gunship helicopters, which were also seen flying throughout the day, did not fire.

The ISPR statement said that security forces had secured most of the heights around Santoi and Mantoi valleys and local tribesmen were cooperating with them. It said that security forces had started action on the request of the Miami and Malik Shah tribes, which lived in Santoi and Mantoi valleys, respectively, on July 18, adding that the operation was still in progress.

For the past seven to 10 days militants hiding in the North of the Shakai area were resorting to unprovoked firing on security forces, using rockets and mortar fire. Security forces were pounding militants' positions in Santoi, Mantoi and Dand areas. These three areas are believed to be sanctuaries of foreign militants and their tribal supporters.

There was no let up in the fighting since Sunday and both sides were targeting each other's positions with artillery, mortar shells and rockets. The army troops were providing back-up to paramilitary forces from the Brigade Headquarters in Zari Noor colony and were targeting militants' positions with long-range artillery.

People living in the Shakai Valley said that an army convoy was fired upon near the Khamrang area in which two soldiers killed and six others wounded. The soldiers' bodies, they said, had been taken to the Brigade Headquarters.

The Afghan refugee killed in the fighting was identified as Wali Khan, while another man, Darya Khan, was wounded after a mortar shell hit their house in the Sar Ghashi area on the outskirts of Shakai. Local people were also affected in the cross-fire between the security forces and the militants and some of their houses were damaged.

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