Peshawar, May 2 (NVI): Intensifying its campaign under ‘Operation Al-Khandaq’, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) carried out 34 attacks at the Pakistani military and its affiliates in a span of 5 days, killing over 30 soldiers and injuring many more, besides destroying their assets, according to the Islamist outfit.
More embarrassing for the Pakistani military has been the capture of its 4 personnel by the TTP in Khyber Pakhktunkhwa Province.
The TTP had launched the ‘Operation Al-Khandaq’ in March, saying its goal was to defeat the “most corrupt” Pakistan Army.
Sharing details of the operations, the TTP gave a break-up of the attacks, including firing assaults, mine blasts, sniper shooting and grenade explosions at several places across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
In one of the biggest clashes, the TTP cadres engaged in a fierce gunfight with the personnel of police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Domail in Bannu district on the intervening night of Arpil 30 and May 1, it said.
“During the clash, six officers were killed and two were injured,” TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said, adding the Taliban also captured a Kalashnikov, a night vision laser and two mobile phones.
“One Mujahideen was martyred in this operation,” he said in a statement.
During the same night, the TTP attacked a military post located in Dera Ismail Khan district, in which two security cameras were destroyed and casualties took place, he said.
During the same night, hand grenades were thrown at the Karkhano police station in the Swabi, in which a police mobile was destroyed, the spokesman said.
The second attack was also carried out with hand grenades on a post located in the Baja Bamkhel area of the same district, in which casualties were reported, he said.
The third attack was carried out with light and heavy weapons on the Jandi outpost in the same province, in which casualties and property losses were reported, Khorasani said.
The fourth attack was also carried out the same night on a post located in the Klas area of the same district, in which one officer was killed, he said.
Six Pakistani soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Loi Mamond district of Bajaur on April 29, the spokesman said.
A Pakistan Army soldier was killed yesterday in a sniper attack in the Shipeshtun area of Ladha in South Waziristan, the spokesman said.
A police post was attacked in the Kalasing area of Totalai, Buner province, in which a policeman named Irfan was injured, he said.
In another incident, an ambush was carried out at a military convoy in the Tirah Shalubar Pabikhel area of Bara district of Khyber province yesterday, in which one soldier was killed and two were injured, while the rest of the convoy managed to escape, the spokesman said.
On April 30, a sniper attack was launched on the “Garab Post” located in the Teti Madakhel area of Spin Wam district of North Waziristan, in which one soldier was killed and another was injured.
He said the Pakistan Army raided the Kaka Khel area of Garyum district of North Waziristan on April 30 and the TTP cadres responded with a strong and effective strategy.
The battle continued for about an hour and a half, in which one army officer was killed, while a drone camera was also shot down, and the Mujahideen managed to escape safely, he said.
The spokesman said the TTP cadres also foiled an ambush by the army on the Tank Road in Gara Mohabbat area of Kalachi district, DI Khan, in which one officer was killed and several were injured, while the Taliban managed to escape safely.
An army drone was shot down in the village of Yupay (Lokhe) of Dogar district, Kurram on April 30, he said.
A sniper and a Pika attack was carried out at the Sheshkroz military post in Mir Ali district of North Waziristan, in which a security camera was destroyed yesterday morning, he said.
The second attack was carried out at 12:30 pm yesterday on a military post located in Khushali Natasi area of Mir Ali district of North Waziristan province using snipers and Pikas, in which one military officer was killed.
A Pakistani soldier was targeted by a sniper in the Jhawar Kali military post in Shaktoi district of South Waziristan province on April 30, he said.
Yesterday afternoon, a security camera was destroyed in a sniper attack on a check post in Zuni Khel Mali Khel area of Bakakhel of Bannu district, he said.
A military post located in the Munzar Khel area of Datta Khel in North Waziristan was attacked by a group of militants yesterday, resulting in casualties, the spokesman said.
Two soldiers were killed in a sniper attack on a military post in Tirah Bhutan Sharif in Barah on April 27, he said.
Missiles were fired at Khysor Kikarai Qila and the adjacent military post in Tiarza district of South Waziristan province on April 29, resulting in casualties and property damage, the TTP spokesman said.
A laser gun attack was carried out on the Daraban police station in DI Khan district which resulted in casualties, he said.
Four military personnel have been arrested and shifted to a safe place during various operations in Tank province, Khorasani said.
A notorious CTD official Noor Islam was targeted and killed in the limits of the Matni police station in the Adizi area of Bad Bir in Peshawar district.
Snipers also attacked military personnel who were coming for a raid on April 30 in the Khushhali Tir Raghazai area of Mirali in North Waziristan district, he said, adding two soldiers were killed and one injured.
A grenade launcher attack was also carried out on April 29 at the “Nalkai Post” located in Land Muhammad Khel area of Bovia district of North Waziristan district, the spokesman said, adding there were casualties.
A mine blast was carried out on military personnel in Nawagi district of Bajaur province, in which there are reports of casualties.
Two military personnel were killed and a security camera was also destroyed in a sniper attack on the Warsak Nakai post located in the Tirah Shalubar area of Bara district of Khyber province on the afternoon of April 29.
The post was then targeted with other weapons, with a strong possibility of further casualties, he said.
An MI operative Khalid was killed during a raid on April 29
During the intervening night of April 29 and 30, a military officer was killed in a sniper attack on a military post located in Hamzoni Raghazi area of Bovia district of North Waziristan province. An army mule was also killed in this attack.
A military officer was killed in a sniper attack on April 27 on military personnel carrying rations for the Top Sar post located in Tirah Bhutan Sharif area of Bara district of Khyber province.
On April 29, a mine blast was carried out on an armored vehicle of a DSP who was coming for a raid in Dharaban district of DI Khan, the spokesman said, adding several personnel were injured while the armored vehicle was destroyed.
An army personnel was killed and another injured in a sniper attack on an army post located in Ghwai Ghara village of Sadda district of Kurram district, the spokesman said.
An army convoy was attacked in Gara Guldad area of Kalachi district of Dera Ismail Khan province, which lasted for an hour. The military personnel abandoned their vehicles on the road and fled, he said, adding several personnel were killed and injured.
Yesterday morning, the Pakistan Army raided the Shodad Khel area of Garyoum district of North Waziristan, he said, adding the Mujahideen retaliated and fought a fierce battle that continued until evening.
Three military personnel were killed and four injured in this clash, after which the Taliban also captured the army’s heavy weapons (LMG and mortars, etc.), but left them for some security reasons, he said.
Many army vehicles were also destroyed in this clash, he said.
On April 29, the Pakistan Army went out to carry out a raid in the Shaki Soti village of South Waziristan, the spokesman said.
The Army unit was ambushed on its return, which resulted in loss of life and property, he said.
On April 29, a Pakistan Army check post was attacked in the Azam Warsak district of South Waziristan province, in which a camera was targeted, and it is also reported that military personnel were injured in the attack, Khorasani said.
On the same day, TTP cadres attacked Chief of Latimbar Police Station Niaz Marjan in Rahmatabad area of Karak, injuring him seriously, he said. (NVI)
