Islamabad: At least 10 Taliban militants were killed today by Pakistani security forces in fresh clashes in the troubled northwestern Swat valley.

Exchanges of fire erupted after the security forces launched a search operation in a militant stronghold in Khwazakhela sub-district this morning. TV channels quoted security officials as saying that 10 militants were killed in the clashes.

The security forces faced stiff resistance from the Taliban, the reports said. Pakistani troops have launched a major operation against militants in Swat Valley led by radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah, a deputy of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, following a surge in violence in the area about two months ago.

 A peace deal signed in May by the Taliban and the government of the North West Frontier Province has virtually collapsed. Troops have also carried out operations against the Taliban in the restive tribal belt. Up to 27 militants, including two commanders and 12 potential suicide bombers, were killed in strikes by gunship helicopters in the Aurakzai Agency yesterday.

The strikes came two days after a suicide car bomb attack on an anti-Taliban jirga or tribal council at Khadazai in Aurakzai Agency killed at least 80 people and injured more than 130. The jirga had convened to discuss ways to evict the Taliban from the region.

Source : PTI