Peshawar, Sept 14 : After eliminating more than 70 terrorists yesterday in the Bajaur Agency, the Pakistani security forces today claimed to have killed 19 more militants in the tribal area.

According to The News, security forces conducted air attacks on militant hideouts in various parts of the Agency.

Jet planes and gun-ship helicopters were used in the attacks that inflicted heavy casualties on the militants in Tang Khatta, Shakai and Lowi Sam areas of the Agency, added the paper.

Hangu (FATA, Pak), Sept 14 : The tribesmen belonging to four Orakzai Agency in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) have reportedly resolved to impose fine of Rs five million on anyone found sheltering foreigners.

They also decided to set afire houses of such “offenders”.

The decision was taken at a jirga (meeting of the tribals) here last evening.

The tribesmen who took the decision belong to the Orakzai Agency.

The jirga also ruled that action against the Taliban found involved in criminal activities would be taken after consultation with tribes.

Lahore, Sept 14 : Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui has reportedly criticsied the cross-border raids in the Pakistani Tribal Areas by the US forces, saying that Pakistan and the US must re

Khar, Sept 14 : In a fresh crackdown on radical Islamist militants in Pakistan, the country’s Army today claimed to have gunned down more than 70 terrorists in the Bajaur Agency. Eight Pakistani soldiers were also killed in the cross firing, sources said.

Around 25 militants were injured in the crackdown, they added.

According to the Daily Times, six terrorists were killed and five injured when a helicopter gunship attacked the vehicle carrying them to Mohmand Agency. However, a military spokesman, Major Murad Khan, told a foreign news agency, “we killed 72 militants, while eight of our soldiers have died in Bajaur since Wednesday.”

Miranshah (Pak), Sept 14 : Amid the recent increase in the number of air raids by the US-led NATO forces from across the Afghan border, the tribal elders in North Waziristan in Pakistan have reportedly vowed to defend the country’s frontiers by fighting alongside security forces against any ‘possible American attack’.

They said that if the American forces did not stop attacking the Tribal Areas, they would feel the repercussions of such attacks in Kabul, Bagram and Kandahar, reported the Daily Times.

Islamabad, Sept 14 : Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza became her country’s first de-facto President, as both President Asif Ali Zardari and Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro are presently out of the country.

As per Article 49(2) of Pakistan’s Constitution, the National Assembly Speaker assumes the charge of the President if both the President and Senate Chairman are out of the country.

Under the article, she will hold the office until the return of either the president or the Senate chairman, reported the Daily Times.