Military juggernaut sweeps all in its way in Khyber Agency

LANDI KOTAL: Dozens of suspected ultras were held and houses of locals dynamited for allegedly providing shelters to militants as troops, backed by gunship helicopters and tanks, continued offensive against militants on second day in Jamrud, Khyber Agency to secure the major supply route to US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, an official said Wednesday.
Authorities suspended the shipment of supplies up to the Afghan border on Tuesday, to clear the way for the military to launch an offensive aimed at ending surging militant attacks on the route.
"Two helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts while troops moved with tanks to secure the area," said Jehangir Khan Afridi, an administration official.
The US military has praised the campaign and said the temporary closure of the road was not a problem.
Official sources said troops faced pockets of militant resistance but four important militant hideouts had been destroyed.
However, officials and residents said on Wednesday most insurgents had apparently fled the Khyber region to neighbouring areas.
"There has been no fire from the militants. They must have fled to remote areas or to Mohmand (Agency)," said resident Irfan Afridi. Militants melted away in June when security forces launched a similar sweep in Khyber.

A pro-Taliban tribal elder surrendered to authorities, promising his tribe would support security.
"We're loyal to Pakistan and the government. We will not fight security forces, offer resistance nor give shelter to militants or criminals," the tribal leader, Attaullah Jan Koki Khel, told the Statesman. A cache of sophisticated weapons was recovered from the residence Attaullah.
Residences and hujras of some tribal chiefs, involved in sheltering militants, such as M Noor, Malik Attaullah, Malik Ahmad Khan, Malik Khanzeb, Sher Shah, JI Khyber Agency leader Haji Najeeb Ullah and Haji Saleem were blown up by security forces.
Col Atif and a soldier sustained injuries while dynamiting a residence of a malik, sources said. The curfew remained imposed in Jamrud whereas the Pak-Afghan highway was kept blocked for the general traffic on the second consecutive day, sources said.
Political Agent Khyber Tariq Hayat said the offensive would continue till elimination of the miscreants and outlaws in Jamrud to secure the road and the people.
He said that writ of the government would be restored to maintain law and order in the agency. "Kidnappings for ransom, killings and hijacking the vehicles of NATO supplies on the main Pak-Afghan highway had become a routine business of the miscreants," said PA Khyber.
Meanwhile, a group of militants fired mortar shells on checkpoint I, II of Darwazgai and checkpoint Lakro in Bajaur Agency. In retaliation, the security forces from Ghallanai headquarters opened heavy fire on the strongholds of militants, killing three fighters, official sources told the Statesman.
Local people also confirmed that shootout continued for two hours in which three militants were killed while local administration did not give details about the incident.
A handout issued by FATA media cell claimed "miscreants have been flushed out from Arrang and Barrang areas of Utmankehl tehsil, Roghgan and Pashat areas of Salarzai tehsil and Khar area of Bajaur Agency."
"Normalcy has returned to these areas after successful operations by security forces," it added. "The people have heaved a sigh of relief after restoration of peace in the area and urged the internally displaced persons to return to their homes and play a positive role in the development of their area," it concluded.