Military: Clashes in restive northwest Pakistan kill 5 militants, 1 soldier
By APFriday, July 24, 2009
Military: Clashes kill 5 militants in NW Pakistan
ISLAMABAD — Security forces say clashes in the troubled Swat Valley and nearby areas in Pakistan’s northwest have left five militants and a soldier dead.
The military issued a statement Friday saying the deaths occurred during search and clearance operations over the previous 24 hours in various parts of Swat. The army has been wrapping up an offensive there against the Taliban that began in late April.
The military said another six suspected militants were arrested during the operation.
Hundreds of thousands of the roughly 2 million people displaced by the fighting in Swat and surrounding areas since April have been returning home after the army said the region was largely cleared of militants.
