WANA, Nov 12: Army and paramilitary troops on Friday launched a joint search in the Kotakai area of South Waziristan for wanted militants. An official said that around 100 houses were extensively searched , but no wanted man was found.

He said more than 200 army and Frontier Corps personnel took part in the operation conducted in an area mainly inhabited by the Mehsud tribe. The search parties did not face any resistance.

In a related development, security forces fired artillery shells on suspected locations in the region to flush out militants from their positions. Military sources said the troops had fired long-range artillery shells from Jandola and Laddah scouts forts in the early hours of Friday, targeting militants' positions in Dela, Shinkai, Zamera and Khunkhela.

Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain told newsmen in Wana that troops had launched a military action in Dela believed to be a stronghold of militants. He said a 'brigade-plus force' was engaged in the operation.

The sources said security forces had encircled the area and did not allow inhabitants to leave or enter the targeted zone.

AGREEMENT: Meanwhile, five wanted militants formally signed an agreement with the government in Wana on Friday, pledging to live peacefully and keep away from terrorist activities.

Under the agreement, the government pardoned Haji Mohammad Omar, Mohammad Javed, Maulvi Abbas, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Mohammad Sharif. Tribal elders accompanied the five when they came to the office of Assistant Political Agent (APA) Khan Bakhsh. They gave the APA Rs10 million as surety on behalf of each militant.

Later, a self-proclaimed commander of the militants, Haji Mohammad Omar, said that under the agreement, army troops would be withdrawn from South Waziristan.