PESHAWAR: Ground troops backed by air force have killed 40 suspected militants and destroyed their 43 hideouts of militants in the week-long offensive in Rajgal, Khyber Agency, as the operation neared its completion.

The Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Monday that security forces had occupied passes and were now consolidating their positions in high mountains in Rajgal, adjacent to Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

War planes and gunship helicopters had been used to dismantle terrorists’ hideouts before launching the ground offensive in the area, the statement said.

It further said that during a search operation in the Damo Drub area, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered.

“Offensive in Rajgal has almost reached its logical end and troops have choked important heights and peaks,” an official said.  

Security forces had launched operation Khyber-3 last week, killing 40 terrorists and injuring 21 others, the statement said.

After clearing Rajgal in Khyber Agency, Lawara Mandi near Afghan border in North Waziristan Agency remains the last bastion of insurgents in Fata.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2016