GroundReport | Afghanistan | Coalition Forces Kill Pakistani Soldiers and Taliban

Coalition Forces Kill Pakistani Soldiers and Taliban

Abudlhadi Hairan June 11, 2008

Peshawar - The U.S.-led Coalition forces have killed several Pakistani and Afghan militants and thirteen Pakistani soldiers in air strikes Tuesday, according to sources in both countries.

A spokesman for the Afghani Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, has confirmed that eleven Taliban militants were killed in the offensive , while a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Maulavi Omer, also said that eight of their fighters were killed and several others wounded.

Both spokesmen have claimed killing several foreign and Afghani troops during the strikes, but the claims have not been confirmed by coalition sources.

Local sources in the Mohmand Agency tribal area told media that at least thirteen Pakistani soldiers, including a Major, were killed and several others wounded in the Coalition attack.

Afghan officials and the international community repeatedly say that the militants infiltrate from Pakistani area into Afghanistan and attack NATO and Afghan forces. The Pakistani Taliban have not denied these claims.

Meanwhile, Coalition forces in an another air strike on Tuesday killed several militants and four civilians in Mata Khan district of Paktika province, according to a press release issued by the forces.

“Our reports show only that there were tens of militants killed and twelve captured. There were three women and one boy also killed as a result of the anti-Afghan forces placing them in danger" commented a Coalition spokesman.

Paktika province also shares border with Pakistan, and local officials often blame the militants for training in Waziristan in Pakistan and then creeping into Paktiaka, Paktiya and Khost. Though this accusation is rejected by Pakistani government, militant groups in Waziristan confirm otherwise.