Islamabad - At least 12 people, including two civilians, were killed Tuesday as Pakistani jets and helicopter gunships pounded insurgent positions in the country's tribal areas along the Afghan border, officials said.
Thousands of troops backed by tanks and artillery pushed into the district of Bajaur, particularly in the Rashakai, Loi Sam and Tang Khata strongholds of Taliban militants and al-Qaeda-linked fighters from Central Asia, the military said.
Islamabad, Sept 16 : In what would further delay the IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline project, Iran has demanded a revision of the gas price formula earlier agreed with Pakistan.
Sources in Pakistan Petroleum Ministry said that Iran’s demand would further delay the gas pipeline project, the estimated cost of which is 7.4 billion dollars.
Lahore, Sept 16 : Pakistan has decided to claim compensation from India for the agriculture losses it suffered due to the stoppage of water flow by India into the Chenab River.
Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah reportedly alleged that India had stopped Pakistan’s 200,000 acre-feet water from August 1 to September 12 to fill its Baglihar Dam lake in Kashmir.
He added that data relating to the previous record of water flow in Chenab had been provided to NESPAK (National Engineering Services Pakistan) to ascertain the loss arising out of the stoppage.
Khar (Pak), Sept 16 : Pakistan security forces today claimed to have gunned down ten more militants in the Bajaur Agency. Several militants were also injured in the air attacks carried out with the help of security forces gunship-helicopters and jet planes.
According to sources, the helicopters and jet planes fired shells and bombs at militants’ hideouts in Bajaur Agency, killing ten terrorists instantly.
According to The News, security forces pounded militants’ positions with gunship helicopters and jet planes in Loisam, Tangkhata and Shakai area of Bajaur Agency, killing at least 10 militants.
Meanwhile, indefinite curfew was enforced in the area while people were fleeing to safe places.
Washington, Sept 16: In a “retaliatory action” after the Sept 3 on-the-ground raid by US forces killing 20 people at a suspected militant target near Angor Adda, Pakistan blocked supplies to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said an American media report.
Most of the dead in the said strike were women and children.
For almost nine years, the US has been using the 1200-mile route from Karachi to the Khyber Pass to supply its troops in Afghanistan, and in lieu Pakistan is paid one million dollars a day for these supplies, including oil, food, heavy equipment and medicines, the Dawn quoted the report as saying.
Lahore, Sept 16 : UK Secretary for Justice Jack Straw has reportedly told Pakistan that his country doesn’t support the recent US’ unilateral strikes inside Pakistan’s territory from across Afghan border.
In a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore, Straw reiterated the UK’s commitment to stop cross-border movement of terrorists and attacks by US led forces in Pakistan, reported the Daily Times.
Straw’s statement was in contrast with an earlier statement by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown backing US incursions into Pakistan.