August 08, 2008	Friday	Sha’aban 5, 1429

KHAR, Aug 7: About 25 militants and six soldiers were killed in fierce clashes between security forces and the Taliban in Lowi Sam area on Thursday.

According to an ISPR statement, 25 to 30 militants were killed and 35 were injured while security forces lost five personnel, another five suffering injuries.

But, Taliban’s spokesman Maulvi Omar claimed that 22 soldiers had been killed and 37 injured. According to him, only one militant was killed and two others injured.

He also claimed that 17 security personnel had been held hostage, five of them with severe injuries.

Maulvi Omar told Dawn on phone from an unspecified place that the Taliban would continue to fight till the withdrawal of troops from the area. “We will retaliate with full might.”

A soldier was killed and two others were injured when their vehicle going to Khar from Lowi Sam hit a bomb detonated by remote control in Tang Khatha area.

Sources said that five troops were killed and several others injured when three roadside bombs hit a convoy of security forces near Rashakai area, some 8kms from Khar.

Three paramilitary soldiers were wounded when another convoy was attacked in Kamar Sur area of tehsil Mamond.

Jaish-i-Islami, a banned outfit, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Militants also attacked a security checkpost in Umari area. It had been recaptured by the forces on Wednesday.

The sources said that a large number of militants armed with AK-47 rifles, rocket-launchers and grenades encircled the checkpost. The forces repulsed the attack by pounding their positions with heavy artillery and shells.

The forces and militants also exchanged fire in Haji Lawang Kalley.

Gunship helicopters pounded suspected militants’ hideouts. Fresh reinforcement has been sent to Lowi Sam. Local people said that a convoy of 15 vehicles, backed by tanks and armoured personnel carriers, was seen advancing to the area.

The militants holding positions on mountains fired rockets on posts held by forces.

In Mamond tehsil, which is a stronghold of the Taliban, militants patrolled roads and erected barricades on the 15km Inayat kalley-Lagharai road.

They killed two men who were in a car near Kawsar in Khar. The victims could not be identified but were said to be government employees.

Markets and offices remained closed in Khar and traffic was thin. Several shells landed near residential areas and trade centres.

Thousands of people left their homes in Peora, Lowi Khwar, Tangi, Inzaree, Khazana and moved to Anbar area of Mohmand agency. People are also migrating from Mamond area to Munda and Jandol in Dir Lower.

A jirga of the Mamond tribe was trying to broker a ceasefire.