DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Eight suspected militants and four security personnel were killed in a clash in the Ladha area of South Waziristan tribal region on Saturday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, four security personnel were killed and six others injured after the Mehsud Taliban attacked a checkpost in the area.

The security forces retaliated and killed eight attackers. Security forces carried out a search operation in the area but no arrest was reported.

In 2009, the army launched an operation against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in the Mehsud tribe-dominated areas of South Waziristan and the region was cleared. However, sporadic clashes between security forces and suspected militants occur, particularly in Ladha, with the result that families displaced by the fighting are yet to return home.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2015

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