GHALANAI, Jan 17: A paramilitary soldier and two militants were killed and a civilian was injured in a clash in Mohmand Agency on Saturday.

The gunbattle took place in Mullakhel area of Qandaharo when militants resisted the forward movement of security forces.

The fighting was continuing till late in the evening.

The security forces targeted the area from the Ghanalani headquarters with mortar shelling.

The search operation, launched a few days ago by the FC, Levies, Khasadar and Mohmand Rifles to clear the area of militants and to re-establish the government’s writ there, continues.

A spokesman for Taliban in the area, Ikramullah Mohmand, told journalists on phone from an undisclosed location that if the government did not stop demolishing houses of tribesmen then they would have no option but to offer resistance to them.

About 50 houses of suspected militants were demolished by the security forces as crackdown continued in Pandyali, Qandaharo, Sandokhel and Darwazgai areas.

Official sources said that the security forces, backed by jet fighters, helicopter gunships and tanks, had intensified the operation in Lakaro tehsil to flush out militants from the area.

The security forces seized four heavy machineguns from a house in Otmanzai area and arrested Salim Khan, the owner, for keeping prohibited weapons.

Four people, including two children, were injured after a mortar shell hit their house in Yakhdhand area.