WANA, Jan 24: The army has claimed wiping out militants from several pockets in the Mehsud area of the troubled South Waziristan tribal region and killing 40 militants in clashes since Wednesday.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that troops had cleared Spinkai Raghzai, Nawazkot and the adjoining area of Tiarza and taken over some strongholds and hideouts of the militants. Forty militants were killed and 30 arrested, many of them injured, it said.

However, militants’ spokesman Maulvi Umar refuted the army’s claims and said that 25 soldiers had been killed and 40 injured. He also claimed that 20 to 25 soldiers had been captured.

He said only seven Taliban militants had been killed in the fighting.

The claims by both the army and the militants could not be verified from independent sources as telephone links with the troubled areas were not working.

Residents said that jet fighters bombed Kotkai and Tauda Cheena areas on Thursday evening. They said that at least five bombs had been dropped. Fierce clashes were reported from Spinkai Raghzai, Nawazkot and Toorwam areas.

According to ISPR, eight soldiers were killed and 32 were injured in the clashes. The official statement said that three tanks had been moved into Jandola to protect the military convoy.

Two civilians reportedly died in Shoza area on Thursday due to severe cold. A displaced family was moving to a safe place when the children died.

Meanwhile, a jirga of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe has been convened in Tank on Friday to discuss the situation in the Mehsud areas.

Sources said that elders would hold meetings with military officials and district administration to persuade them to keep the main routes open for traffic.

AGENCIES ADD: Troops backed by tanks and gunships cleared militant hideouts near the Afghan border in a major offensive on Thursday.

Chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said soldiers had cleared militants from their hideouts and strongholds in the Spinkai Raghazai, Nawazkot and Tiarza areas of the tribal zone.

“Our forces are now consolidating their positions. The militants are using rockets, machine-guns and Kalashnikovs,” Mr Abbas told AFP.

The clashes occurred in areas mainly controlled by the Mehsud tribe, Mr Abbas added. He said he was not aware of the whereabouts of rebel commander Baitullah Mehsud

“It is not known whether he was taking part in the fighting or was present in those areas,” Mr Abbas said.