The Pakistani Army said it started its ground offensive in the Miramshah area of North Wazirsitan earlier today. The Inter-Services Public Relations branch issued a press release stating that a “House to House search of Miramshah town is being carried out by infantry troops and special service group.”
The military claimed it killed 15 “terrorists” while its forces “recovered underground tunnels and IEDs preparation factories inside the so far cleared area.”
In the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, the military has executed “integrated fire of Artillery, Tanks and other heavy weapons … on terrorist’s concentrations ….”
The military now claims that 376 “terrorists” and 17 soldiers have been killed since Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched.
Despite the use of “Artillery, Tanks and other heavy weapons” in populated areas, the military claims that no civilians have been killed.
Additionally, the military has identified only one “terrorist” killed during the operation – a local Taliban leader in Miramshah known as Commander Umer. The military also claimed it captured an al Qaeda explosives expert but has not named him.
Many of the areas targeted in the operation are administered by the “good Taliban” – the Haqqani Network and the Hafiz Gul Bahadar Group – and yet not a single Haqqani or Bahadar commander has been identified as killed or captured.
For more information on Pakistan’s recent military operation in North Waziristan and “good Taliban” vs. “bad Taliban”, see LWJ and Threat Matrix reports:
- Pakistan launches ‘comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists’ in North Waziristan
- Pakistani forces focus on ‘foreigners’ in North Waziristan operation
- Pakistani military claims 257 ‘terrorists,’ no civilians killed in North Waziristan offensive
- Pakistani Army continues to boast of zero civilian casualties in North Waziristan operation
- Pakistani military kills local Taliban leader, captures al Qaeda bomb expert
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