September 17, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 16, 1429

KHAR, Sept 16: At least 10 militants were killed when helicopter gunships and planes attacked their positions in different areas of the Bajaur tribal region on Tuesday.

A Frontier Corps official said the militants had suffered heavy casualties in the attacks on their positions in Rashakai, Kausar, Banda and Bai Chena.

Security forces were reported to have arrested 50 militants, 25 of them foreigners, during the operation. Sources said that the foreigners belonged to Central Asian states and they would soon be presented before the media.

Local people said that helicopters and planes carried out relentless bombings while ground forces used heavy artillery. They said that some residential areas also hit.

A resident of Rashakai told Dawn on phone that the troops were yet to advance towards some strongholds of militants who had not vacated their positions despite the heavy bombing. However, air strikes had restricted militants’ movement, he added.

He said that the militants had occupied in Rashakai the houses of people who had moved to other places.

According to him, security forces have also occupied a number of houses in the troubled areas and destroyed crops along the main road because the militants were using the fields for attacks.

A press release issued by the media cell of the FC headquarters in Peshawar said that a large quantity of arms and ammunition and Afghan currency notes were seized during an operation in Tang Khata.

The local administration extended curfew to several other areas.

Meanwhile, people in the troubled region have been facing an acute shortage of foodstuff because of clashes and curfew.