RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that 10 more militants have surrendered to security forces along with their weapons and ammunition in Bara tehsil of the restive Khyber tribal region.
In a statement on Monday, the ISPR said that a total of 350 terrorists including more than 20 important commanders have surrendered to security forces since start of the operation Khyber-1.
The operation Khyber-I successfully continues to be carried out by the Pakistan’s military in the volatile northwestern tribal region since October this year.
The operation was launched in Bara and Tirah Valley of Khyber agency against Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), a banned militant organization active in and around the tribal region and is currently headed by Mangal Bagh.
The military sources said that more than 150 militants have been killed so far as during the operation Khyber-I.
The operation Khyber-I was launched amidst a full-fledged military operation Zarb-e-Azb launched in the North Waziristan tribal region on June 15 against various outlawed militant groups.
So far 1,198 militants have been killed while 356 injured during the operation Zarb-e-Azb, the Commander of the Operation Major General Zafar Ullah Khan said at a media briefing in Mir Ali on Sunday.
The commander said that the Pakistan’s army has cleared 90 percent of North Waziristan agency of militants during the ongoing operation. He said that 2,708 square kilometer of area has so far been vacated while the remainder would be cleared as early as possible.
Moreover, the army has made major recoveries of weapons, ammunition, explosives, improvised explosive devices and their manufacturing facilities during the operation, he said.
