As many as 21 militants and eight soldiers were killed and several injured in a clash in the restive Khyber Agency on Wednesday. Eight security personnel embraced martyrdom in the clash.
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Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the security forces launched a major clearance operation in Spinqamar area of Khyber Agency during which a fierce fight and exchange of fire took place with the terrorists. In cross-firing 21 terrorists were killed and several others injured. Eight security personnel embraced martyrdom while four sustained wounds. Pakistan has been battling extremist groups in its semi-autonomous tribal belt since 2004, after the army entered the region to search for al Qaeda fighters who had fled across the border following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.[contentblock id=2 img=adsense.png]
The funeral of the fallen soldiers was offered late on Wednesday in Peshawar Garrison. COAS General Raheel Sharif and other military officials attended the funeral. Later, the bodies of the soldiers were sent to their ancestral towns where they will be buried with full military honours. COAS Sharif also visited CMH Peshawar and inquired about the well-being of the soldiers injured in Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Khyber. Terrorists have faced major losses in the recent military operations in the tribal areas and are on the run. The military is pounding them with artillery, jets and gunship helicopters. -dailytimes
