ISLAMABAD: After Miramshah, two important villages of North Waziristan Boya and Degan, which were known to be strongholds of local and foreign militants, have been cleared by Pakistani armed forces.

“Consolidation of Boya and Degan is in progress,” said a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday.

This information, however, could not be independently verified.

Terrorists are being eliminated and dislodged from their bases in North Waziristan as the operation progresses as per plan, said the statement.

The press release said that house to house search in Mussaki, Hurmez and Mirali Bazar was being carried out by integrated group of forces.

Terrorists holed up inside Mirali and surrounding areas have been firing rockets and mortars and using heavy machine guns and sniper rifles, said the statement, adding that four terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire last night.

According to ISPR, 12 IEDs were neutralised last night alone, while an IED making factory, huge cache of arms and ammunition and foreign currency were also recovered.

Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani also visited Mirali, Boya and Degan areas of North Waziristan Agency earlier today and met with the Army troops.

Relief work

Meanwhile, distribution of relief items for IDPs continues at Bannu, D I Khan and Tank. 1,33,002 ration packs have been distributed so far. The statement said that 1639 tons of rations has been collected so far at 59 relief donations points established by Pakistan Army across the country and transported to Bannu.

It said about 30,000 patients have been treated at the Field Medical Hospital established at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital Bannu by the Army.

About 16,060 cattle have also been provided veterinary treatment, while 40,278 cattle and 5,66,393 poultry have been vaccinated.

Nearly a million people have fled the offensive in North Waziristan, which is aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.

Tens of thousands of families have left for the town of Bannu, close to North Waziristan, while hundreds more have moved further afield to the towns of Lakki Marwat, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan since the Operation Zarb-i-Azb began in mid-June.