The Taliban attacked a Pakistani military outpost in the lawless tribal agency of Arakzai, killing five paramilitary troops, including a senior military officer.
More than 100 Taliban fighters mounted a nighttime military assault early today on a Frontier Corps base in the regional headquarters of Kalaya, sparking a battle that resulted in the death of a Frontier Corps lieutenant colonel and four other troops.
The Taliban opened the assault with coordinated mortar and machine fire, and eventually overran the outpost, according to Dawn. “Jet fighters later bombed the area and the security official said the post had been retaken,” the Pakistani newspaper reported.
The military claimed that 27 Taliban and foreign fighters, including Uzbeks, were killed in the counterattack. A Pakistani security official also said the Taliban were trapped after the military established the Kalaya outpost and blocked their retreat to the Tirah Valley in the neighboring tribal agency of Khyber. The Taliban are known to operate bases and training camps in the Tirah Valley, and use this safe haven to launch attacks inside Pakistan as well across the border in Afghanistan.
Today’s clash follows a series of air and artillery strikes by the military against the Taliban in Arakzai. Including today’s reports of Taliban deaths, the military has claimed to have killed 114 Taliban fighters in Arakzai since March 21.
Yesterday, the military launched airstrikes in Mamuzai and other regions. The Mamuzai airstrikes targeted a Taliban meeting at a Tablighi Jamaat seminary as well as a mosque.
Arakzai has become an important base for the Taliban over the past year. Large elements of the Taliban in the Mehsud regions of South Waziristan have relocated to the tribal agencies of Arakzai, Kurram, Khyber, and North Waziristan, after the Pakistani Army launched an operation in October 2009 [see LWJ report, “Pakistani military hits Taliban in Arakzai“].
On several occasions over the past year, the Pakistani military has claimed to have restored order in regions in Arakzai, but the Taliban have retaken control after security forces have withdrawn.
The military has also launched limited operations in neighboring Khyber and Kurram. The Taliban still control large regions in these two tribal areas, and remain in full control of North Waziristan.
