Islamabad, August 06: Pakistani tribesmen have raided hideouts of pro-Taliban militants in the restive North-West Frontier Province, killing a dozen insurgents.
A local lashkar (tribal militia) attacked the militants in Shatkas area of Upper Dir district on Wednesday, killing a senior commander along with 11 others, Press TV correspondent reported.
Heavy fighting continues between the two sides in Ghazigae Baba area where the local forces are struggling to drive militants out of the remaining half of the area which remains under their control.
The Islamabad government has supported the tribesmen in the region to form local militias to counter a spill-over of insurgency through Afghan borders and resist attacks by Taliban-inspired insurgents from within Pakistan.
The military has launched a massive operation against Taliban-linked terrorists in Swat Valley and its adjoining districts in the violent northwest, where it claims to have killed at least 1,800 militants since the start of the operation in May.
—–Agencies