GHALANAI, Jan 18: At least 13 militants, a local commander among them, were killed and several others were injured in a clash with security forces in the Kandaro tehsil in Mohmand tribal region, sources said on Sunday.

Helicopter gunships shelled suspected Taliban hideouts in Sandukhel and Mullahkhel areas of Kandaro tehsil on Saturday night, killing a number of militants, including their local commander Yaqub. Some militants were killed when their vehicle was attacked by a helicopter.

At least 40 shops and a petrol pump were bulldozed in different parts of the tribal agency by troops during an operation to clear the area of Taliban.

According to local people, troops pounded hideouts of militants with mortars throughout the night and clashes continued till Sunday morning.

The fighting broke out on Saturday evening after Taliban attacked troops conducting searches, according to Reuters.

“They launched the attack from a hideout. Our troops responded quickly and destroyed it and killed 14 miscreants,” Miraj Khan, a government official in the region, said.