KHAR, Sept 28: Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited the troubled Bajaur tribal region where fierce clashes continued on Sunday and 15 militants were killed and several others wounded.

Troops backed by helicopter gunships and air force planes targeted militants’ hideouts in Rashakai, Tang Khatta, Bicheena, Delay, Nisarabad, Niag Banda, and Charmang areas on Saturday night and Sunday.

There were no immediate reports of any casualty on the military side.

Officials said that over the past month, 500 to 1,000 militants, including some top Al Qaeda and Taliban ‘commanders’, had been killed in battles in Bajaur.

Clashes were reported from Charmang, Bicheena and Delay areas where the militants had regrouped and hundreds of them attacked a number of military posts on Saturday night. Troops repulsed the attacks using artillery and mortar fire.

Early on Sunday, the militants again attacked some security outposts but were forced to retreat. Helicopter gunships and planes shelled militant hideouts till 10am, destroying their key positions, sources said.

The army chief visited the region and met commanders and troops engaged in the operation.

He also met a 30-member jirga of Tarkhani and Utmankhel tribes at the Bajaur Scouts Headquarters in Khar, says an ISPR release.

General Kayani praised the role of tribal elders who had raised a lashkar to take on the militants and said that the tribal people had always fought shoulder to shoulder with the army to protect the borders of the country.

Addressing the jirga, Gen Kayani expressed satisfaction over tribesmen’s support for the troops in their operation to root out militancy and eradicate their nurseries in the tribal belt.

Reiterating that the operation would continue till the achievement of its objectives, he assured that the government’s writ would soon be established and tribal areas would be cleared of foreign militants and their local collaborators.

The army chief said the militants were enemies of Islam, Pakistan and the people, adding that they were against the economic development of the region.

The militants, he said, were attacking not only security forces and government installations but were also torching and blowing up girls’ schools and health centres.

The tribal elders assured complete support to the government and security forces and said they would not let militants sabotage peace. They welcomed the army chief to their area and said his visit had boosted their morale.

According to the ISPR, the COAS was given detailed briefing by Inspector-General of the Frontier Corps Maj-Gen Tariq on the operation’s progress.

General Kayani remained with troops for some time and interacted informally with local commanders. He praised the high morale of troops and officers.

The army chief was received on arrival by Corps Commander Peshawar Lieut-Gen Mohammad Masood Aslam.

The area is still under curfew which was imposed 27 days ago.