Pakistan army begin ground invasion of North Waziristan

By Aamir Latif 

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan's army has launched a ground invasion of the northwestern North Waziristan tribal region, killing 15 militants and destroying tunnels and an improvised explosives factory. 

Inter Services Public Relations, the Pakistani army's public relations body, said in a statement that ground troops backed by tanks and artillery entered parts of the region's main towns of Miranshah and Mir Ali on Monday morning, and were conducting house-to-house searches.

The ground invasion comes as part of the operation "Zarb-e-Azb," meaning "the strike of the sword," launched June 15 in an attempt to force Taliban militants -- especially those belonging to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan network -- from North Waziristan. 

Forces also entered Datta Khel town, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, on Monday afternoon, a military official said.

During the search operation, the Inter Services Public Relations said a large cache of weapons and ammunition had also been seized from various houses and hideouts.

"Effective cordon is in place at other areas housing terrorists," the public relations body said.

The army launched its long-anticipated ground operation after the evacuation of around 500,000 residents from restive North Waziristan region to adjoining districts and neighboring Afghanistan.

So far, the army has confirmed that 376 purported militants have been killed in the operation, while 19 Taliban fighters have surrendered. 

These figures cannot be independently verified as media has no access to operation-hit areas. Twelve troops have also been killed in clashes with the Taliban since June 15.

www.aa.com.tr/en