PESHAWAR, March 5: The Pakistan Army has engaged teams of Special Services Group and Snow Expedition to recover the 10 missing soldiers who were caught in avalanche in Tirah valley of the Khyber Agency on March 1.

In a statement issued here on Monday, the ISPR said that hectic efforts were under way to recover soldiers of the army and Frontier Corps.

It said that rescue teams had been equipped with modern gadgetry used in similar operation in Siachen Glacier.

The army has set up a base camp in Jarobi in the snowbound Tirah valley and Lama helicopters had been dispatched to take part in the operation.

The statement said that Lt-Gen Mohammad Hamid Khan visited the area and directed military authorities to take necessary measures to recover the missing soldiers.

APP adds: Helicopters of the Army Aviation were used for immediate rescue operation within one hour of the incident.

Two soldiers were recovered alive.

Lama helicopters, capable of operating at high altitudes, have also been placed at the disposal of rescue parties. Rescue parties will restart their operation as the weather improves.

Military authorities said that the operation would continue till the recovery of all soldiers.

They said taking into account the inaccessibility of the terrain and heavy snow in the area, it might take time to conclude the mission.

Corps Commander Lt-Gen Mohammed Hamid Khan said that it was the moral and professional duty to recover the missing soldiers.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan had employed more than 80,000 troops along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to check and monitor the cross border infiltration.—APP