Death toll rises to 32 in clashes in S. Waziristan

Pakistans Cobra helicopters and ground forces targeted several locations in South Waziristan areas dominated by the Mahsud tribe, while a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden jeep into a military vehicle near Jandola killing himself and wounding five soldiers.

Peshawar, Aug 18 : Pakistan's Cobra helicopters and ground forces targeted several locations in South Waziristan areas dominated by the Mahsud tribe, while a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden jeep into a military vehicle near Jandola killing himself and wounding five soldiers.

Security forces in North Waziristan killed two Uzbek nationals and two tribesmen.

Sources said that the death toll in clashes over the past two days in South Waziristan reached 32 -- 12 of them soldiers and 19 militants. Lt Umar Shah, was also among the dead.

They said that five helicopter gunships called in from a base in Miramshah in North Waziristan attacked militants' positions in Chagmalai, Spla Toi, Tanga, Berwand, Maulvi Khan Sarai and Zawar areas.

Security forces killed four militants and wounded four others when they fired back after a security post had been attacked in Ghat Khwa area, some 20km north of Wana, sources said.

Zulfiqar Mahsud, a spokesman for militant commander Baitullah Mahsud, claimed responsibility for the attacks on the security forces.

The Taliban had captured four posts in Tiarza area, the Dawn quoted Mahsud, as saying.

He also claimed that six army vehicles had been damaged.

The clashes erupted following an attack on a convoy in Chagmalai area on Thursday, leaving 10 militants and two soldiers dead.

Witnesses said helicopters carried out intensive shelling and bombing. The road between Wana and Jandola remained closed. Security forces fired heavy artillery from Serwakai, Jandola and Manzai forts on different locations.

Because of artillery shelling, residents of Chagmalai left their homes on Thursday night and moved to Jandola and Gomal areas of Dera Ismail Khan.

The whereabouts of the 15 paramilitary soldiers kidnapped on August 9 was still unknown, souces said.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber rammed his Land Cruiser loaded with explosives into a military vehicle near Tank city injuring five soldiers.

The bomber's body was blown up into pieces, a witness said.

ANI