LADDHA/KHAR, June 21: An army officer was killed and seven other security personnel were injured when militants attacked them during a search operation in Sharqi area of Laddha in South Waziristan Agency on Thursday.

Sources in security forces, however, claimed that 10 militants were killed and three others received injuries when jetfighters pounded their positions in Sharqi and Janata areas of the tribal region.

Sources said that Captain Faseeh was killed and seven other security personnel including another captain were injured in the militants’ attack. The body of Captain Faseeh was flown to Rawalpindi in a helicopter. The injured were shifted to agency headquarters hospital in Wana.

They said that security forces were conducting a search operation in the area when a group of militants attacked them. The area is a stronghold of militants that’s why internally displaced tribesmen have not returned to their homes in the region. In Bajaur Agency, 17 militants including some senior commanders surrendered to security forces in Charmang area of Nawagai tehsil on Thursday.

A ceremony was held in this connection in Charmang that was attended by senior officials of political administration and security forces. A large number of tribal elders and members of several peace committees were also present on the occasion.

The surrendered militants took oath on the holey Quran that they would live as peaceful citizens in the future. “We will never participate in any anti-state activity. We will not be part of any militant group working against the country,” they pledged.

The surrendered militants told journalists that that they were misguided by their commanders. “They (commanders) had told us that activities against the security forces and locals were a part of jihad,” they added.

They said that they were attached with militant groups for the last four years. They said that they had taken part in several activities against the forces as well as tribal elders.