Pakistani Fighter Jets Bomb the Piss Out of Taliban Compounds In Orakzai, 25 Taliban Dead

Whenever the Pakistani government and military wants to look "tough" they send fighter jets and attack helicopters into Orakzai agency up in the northwestern territories - it's the easiest way for the government to look like they are fighting back without pissing off the Taliban leaders they are friendly with in North and South Waziristan.

But hey, we'll take 25 dead Taliban any day of the week for whatever reason.

The story comes from DAWN.

Orakzai offensive leaves 25 militants dead


ORAKZAI AGENCY: Twenty-five militants have been killed as jet fighters on Thursday targeted militant hideouts in upper Orakzai Agency.

Earlier in the morning a security forces convoy was targeted in Nadar Mela with an IED, which resulted in the death of one soldier while three others were injured.

Assistant political agent Rafiq Mohmand told Dawn.Com that the militant stronghold of Gundai Mela in Mamozai has been taken over by security forces. Eight militants were killed during the offensive.

He said that during air strikes in Inzar Mela, Jandri Kalle and Adu Khel area of Mamozai, four militant hideouts were destroyed while 12 militants were also killed, adding “those killed are mostly affiliated with the TTP.”

Five militants were also killed in another clash.

Officials also believe that the fall of Gundai Mela to the security forces is a huge success due to the strategic location of the village.

The adjoining mountainous region, near the Dogar village of Kurram Agency, is also a key weapon supply route for Orakzai militants.

However security forces, after taking over key villages in the TTP stronghold of Mamozai, are not advancing to the areas bordering Kurram Agency and Tirah Valley.

Pakistani Fighter Jets Pound Taliban, 40 Dead In Airstrikes In Orakzai and Khyber

Typically, when the Pakistan government decides to take a little heat off of themselves for doing nothing to control the Taliban forces in the northwestern territories, they will pound the shit out of Orakzai agency and the past two days are no different as fighter jets were scrambled and Taliban compounds targeted for airstrikes that have killed about 40 Taliban jihadis.

The story comes from DAWN.

Jets blitz suspected militant hideouts in Khyber, Orakzai; seven killed


PESHAWAR: At least seven suspected militants were killed early on Wednesday when army jets pounded militant hideouts in the northwestern tribal regions of Orakzai and Khyber.

Upper Orakzai’s assistant political agent Muhammad Rafique told Dawn.com that three militant hideouts were destroyed in the bombardment, adding that seven militants had reportedly been killed in the strikes.

The jets struck suspected militant hideouts in the Ublan area of Orakzai tribal region and near the Khyber tribal region’s border with Orakzai.

Earlier on Tuesday, security agencies had claimed to have killed 33 militants affiliated to the outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in multiple jet strikes conducted in the remote Tirah valley of Khyber and in the Mamozai area of Orakzai.

Khyber and Orakzai are among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with homegrown insurgents and are alleged to be strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.

Holy Crap! Twin U.S. Predator Drone Strikes In Orakzai, Pakistan Kill 16 Taliban!

Holy shit is right.  I can't remember a day when we had a death count of 16 Taliban from drone strikes but in two twin strikes today, U.S. predator drones hit a usually off limits area of the Orazkzai Agency area in Pakistan killing 16 Taliban.  Bloody awesome!

From the report at DAWN:

A US drone attack killed 16 suspected militants and injured six others in the Orakzai agency of Pakistan’s tribal region on Thursday.

Four missiles were fired in the Buland Khel area of the Orakzai agency, which is close to the borders of the North and South Waziristan tribal regions in Fata.

“The attack was aimed at the compound of Maulana Shakirullah, who is the commander of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” officials said.

The militant wing run by Shakirullah has been linked with the Haqqani network and Al-Qaeda. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group has been repeatedly accused by the US for being involved in cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

In the article, it states that this is only the second UAV strike on Orakzai by the U.S. and the last one was in 2009 so I am CERTAIN that the intel was flawless on the location of this leader, Shakirullah, and I will be willing to be a lot of money that later today or tomorrow or the next day we are going to hear the news that this piece of shit is deader than a doornail from these strikes.  They had this guy dead to rights and from how it appears, he was having a meeting.

Mwahahahaha.

US drone strikes in Orakzai kill 16 suspected militants


PESHAWAR: A US drone attack killed 16 suspected militants and injured six others in the Orakzai agency of Pakistan’s tribal region on Thursday.

Four missiles were fired in the Buland Khel area of the Orakzai agency, which is close to the borders of the North and South Waziristan tribal regions in Fata.

“The attack was aimed at the compound of Maulana Shakirullah, who is the commander of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” officials said.

The militant wing run by Shakirullah has been linked with the Haqqani network and Al-Qaeda. The Hafiz Gul Bahadur group has been repeatedly accused by the US for being involved in cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

This was the second drone attack in Orakzai agency. The first came in 2009 in the Khadezai area of Mamozai in Upper Orakzai agency, in which 11 militants affiliated to TTP’s Hakimullah group were killed.

Sources told Dawn.com that the US drone fired two missiles on the headquarters of Shakirullah right at the zero line between North Waziristan and Orakzai agencies.

The strikes destroyed the compound and left 16 suspected militants dead.

When contacted, some security officials – however – said that the strike had been carried out on the North Waziristan side. Drones were still flying over the site of the attack and locals were reportedly staying away from the site.

The identities and nationalities of the militants killed in the strikes is yet to be ascertained.

Earlier in the day, eight people were killed and 20 were injured when a roadside-planted improvised explosive device exploded on Mushti Mela road in Orakzai agency’s Hasanzai Bazar area.

Pakistan Sends Fighter Jets Into Orakzai, 12 Taliban Killed In Airstrikes

 Three militant hideouts were destroyed in the attacks.  — Photo by Reuters



Trying to figure out the Pakistani government and military is impossible - just about the time when you are going to make note of the fact that not a single attempt has been made by the Pakistani military to engage the Taliban in months, they hit an area of the northwest of Pakistan with a sophisticated airstrike using Pakistani air force fighter jets.  Like they did today.


The story is from DAWN.

Security forces blitz militant hideouts in Orakzai


PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s security forces’ fighter jets pounded militant hideouts, killing a dozen militants and injuring another five in various areas of Orakzai agency on Sunday, DawnNews reported.

Three militant hideouts were destroyed in the attacks.

The airstrikes targeted four hideouts in the remote Ghaljo and Dabori areas of the northwestern Orakzai tribal region, military officials said. The locations were being used by members of the Pakistan Taliban.

The death toll could not be independently verified and militants often dispute official figures.

Taliban Attack On Checkpoint Kills Three Pakistani Soldiers

The attack took place at a paramilitary check post in Khadizai area on the outskirts of Kalaya, the main town in the Orakzai district, a senior military officer said. — File photo


The Pakistani army lost three soldiers yesterday night when the Taliban mounted an attack on a checkpoint area in Orakzai agency - return fire by Pakistani forces was said to kill up to 10 of the Taliban but that hasn't been confirmed.

The story comes from DAWN.

Militants kill three soldiers in Orakzai


ORAKZAI: At least three soldiers were killed on Saturday after dozens of militants stormed a check post in upper Orakzai.

The attack took place at a paramilitary check post in Khadizai area on the outskirts of Kalaya, the main town in the Orakzai district, a senior military officer said.

“Three soldiers were martyred when Taliban armed with guns and rockets launched an attack overnight,” he said, adding that several dozen insurgents were involved in the raid.

Another official said Pakistani security forces retaliated and killed more than 10 militants, but there was no independent confirmation of the toll.

The injured security personnel have been shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Kohat for the treatment.

The military has started a search operation in the area.

Khadizai is located in Upper Orakzai which is usually the scene of frequent clashes between security forces and militants while government troops are in control of its lower reaches.

Pakistanis Send Air Strikes Into Orakzai Agency, Kill Over 40 Taliban In Last 12 Hours

At least 40 extremists have been killed by the security forces in the last 12 hours in the tribal areas of Pakistan — File photo


Pakistani war planes are buzzing over Orakzai agency today as eight Taliban were killed in morning strikes and the total over the past 12 hours is at least 40 dead Taliban in these air strikes.

The Pakistani military has been following no rhyme or reason lately with their operations and it's almost like they wait until a certain area of the northwest frontier area gets too loaded with Taliban and then they decide to "cull the herd." The other idea I have is that local tribes and government officials probably send in some complaints to the Pakistani national government and then the military gets an earful.

Either way, this is good news as a world with 40 fewer Taliban is a much better world.

The story comes from DAWN.

Air strikes in Orakzai kill eight militants


ORAKZAI: At least eight militants were killed and several injured on Saturday in the latest air strikes by security forces , DawnNews reported.

At least 40 militants have been killed by the security forces in the last 12 hours in the tribal areas of Pakistan

According to the security agency sources, 23 militants were killed in different strikes in the areas of Samaa Bazaar, Toor Semath, Kagu Qamar, Mamuzi, Jabba, and Balaras of Orakzai agency.

Three bases of the militants in Orakzai have been destroyed, sources informed.

In Kurram agency in similar shelling incidents, 15 militants were killed.

Meanwhile in South Waziristan, a security check post was attacked by the militants resulting in the casualties of four civilians.

Four militants were also killed in response by the security forces.

Pakistani Fighter Jets Pound Taliban In Orakzai, 20 Taliban Killed

“At least 20 Taliban militants were killed in the bombing,” a military official in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar said.


Pakistan unleashed its fighter jets today in the Orakzai agency area and pounded some identified Taliban compounds and hideouts with the resulting 20 Taliban being killed. Not a bad day's tally at all. Nope.

Oh, and they say the death count of Taliban just may go up. :)

The story comes from DAWN.

Jet strike kills 20 Taliban in Orakzai: officials


PESHAWAR: Warplanes pounded militant hideouts in the northwestern tribal region of Orakzai before dawn on Wednesday, killing at least 20 Taliban insurgents, security officials said.

The jets targeted hideouts in the tribal district and at least four compounds were hit, they said, in the latest surge of fighting between government security forces and militants in the Afghan border areas.

“At least 20 Taliban militants were killed in the bombing,” a military official in Peshawar said.

Local intelligence officials confirmed the air strikes.

The hideouts belonged to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders Mulla Tufan and Commander Moheyuddin, a security official said.

There are reports that Moheyuddin may have been killed in the bombing, he said.

A military official in Peshawar said “four hideouts have been destroyed and the death toll may go up”.

Pakistan Breaks Out the Fighter Jets, Kill 11 Taliban In Orakzai Agency

The other day I saw that Pakistan had killed around 15 Taliban in Orakzai agency and didn't post it thinking it might be just another Taliban ambush that went wrong for them but with another report coming in today, I decided to look closer and found that the Pakistanis are actually unleashing some air power on the Taliban - today's airstrikes killed 11 Taliban in Orakzai.

I'm not sure if the Pakistanis have just gotten some really good intel in on some key Taliban figures and that is what is causing the uptick here but we'll take whatever we can get when it means bodies of dead Taliban being stacked up like cordwood.

The story is from DAWN.

Eleven militants killed in Orakzai operation


PESHAWAR: Security forces on Sunday destroyed several suspected militant hide-outs in different areas of Orakzai agency, DawnNews reported.

According to government sources, at least 11 suspected militants were killed in the operation using fighter jets.

At least six suspected militant hideouts were targetted in the areas of Mamozai, Jabba, Jandri and Torsamt in upper Orakzai agency, wounding an additional six militants.

Security officials claim to have cleaned up to 90 per cent of the area in the operation.

War Update: 25 Taliban Killed In Pakistan, 5 Polish Troops Killed In Afghanistan

Well, there's good and there's very bad today to report in regards to the War in Afghanistan. I'll start with the good news where 25 Taliban were smoked in Pakistan's Orakzai agency when Pakistani troops along with attack helicopter support beat the shit out of large group of Taliban fighters.

From DAWN:

Clash kills 25 militants in Orakzai


PESHAWAR: Twenty-five militants were killed and 17 security officials, including a major, were injured in a clash in northwest Pakistan’s Orakzai tribal area, DawnNews reported on Wednesday.

Government sources said militants attacked three security check posts in Orakzai’s Dabori area, injuring 17 security personnel.

In retaliatory action, security forces attacked militant hideouts using gunship helicopters. Five insurgent hideouts were destroyed in the action which also resulted in the killing of 25 militants.

Orakzai is one of the most lawless areas in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region, which is made up of seven districts near the Afghan border.

Security forces launched a major operation in Orakzai in March last year after militants fled a sweeping offensive in the nearby tribal district of South Waziristan.

Now for the bad news. In Afghanistan's Ghazni province, a roadside bomb (IED) went off next to a NATO convoy and killed 5 Polish soldiers - the single biggest loss of life for Poland since the war started. This is so tragic for the nation of Poland - a proud nation who has sent their young soldiers into Afghanistan to help America - a commitment to unselfishness and to see this kind of loss is heart-wrenching.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these Polish heroes and to all of the people of Poland.

Again, the story is from DAWN.

Five Nato soldiers killed in Afghanistan


GHAZNI: Taliban bombers killed five Polish soldiers in an attack on their convoy in Afghanistan on Wednesday, one of the heaviest single losses for Warsaw’s Nato contingent in the 10-year war.

Poland’s news agency PAP cited unnamed government officials as saying the troops died when a roadside bomb exploded next to a Nato convoy.

When contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Polish forces in Afghanistan refused to issue an official comment “pending notification of the families of the victims”.

Poland has 2,600 soldiers in Afghanistan and is one of the largest contributors to Nato’s US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which expects to withdraw all combat troops by the end of 2014.

In Kabul, ISAF confirmed that five Nato soldiers were killed in an attack in the southeastern province of Ghazni, where Polish troops are responsible for security, but declined to release their nationalities in keeping with policy.

Ghazni provincial police chief Dilawar Zahid said the attack took place in the Rawza area of Ghazni city at 11:30 am.

He confirmed casualties, but could not give an exact number.

A witness told AFP that an ISAF vehicle had been “totally destroyed” and saw helicopters evacuating casualties.

The Taliban claimed responsibility in a text message spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid sent to AFP. He claimed the Taliban had targeted a Polish convoy and killed several Nato soldiers, without providing any evidence.

Wednesday’s killings bring to 36 Poland’s death toll from the conflict in Afghanistan, where 140,000 US-led foreign troops are fighting a decade-long Taliban insurgency and supporting Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s government.

Poland first sent forces to Afghanistan in March 2002, shortly after the Taliban regime collapsed following the 2001 US-led invasion.

Western capitals have started to withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan as part of plans to transfer increasing responsibility for security to Afghans.

But thousands of foreign soldiers are expected to remain in the war-torn country in a training and mentoring capacity well after 2014.

In eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, police also shot dead a would-be suicide bomber before he could detonate his explosives at a bank, officials said.

Officers are hunting a second attacker who also tried to target a branch of the Kabul Bank in Khost city.

“One guard was wounded in the incident,” the interior ministry said.

“A suicide bomber was shot dead by police before reaching his target in front of the Kabul Bank branch in Khost city,” Khost provincial police spokesman Zirat Gul Mangal said.

Khost, which borders Pakistan, is a stronghold of the Haqqani network, a faction of the Afghan Taliban loyal to al Qaeda and blamed by the Americans for some of the most-high profile attacks in Afghanistan.

In February, a gun and suicide attack on a branch of the Kabul Bank left 38 people dead in Jalalabad, which is also near the Pakistani border.

Taliban Ambush Pakistani Army Convoy In Orakzai, Doesn't Work Out Too Well With 7 Taliban Killed

Orakzai is one of the most lawless areas in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region, which is made up of seven districts near the Afghan border.—File Photo

Once again we see the infamous "run down the mountainside yelling 'allahu ackbar' " attack by the Taliban on a Pakistani army convoy and the result is the Pakistani forces regroup, mount a counter-attack and kill the piss out of the Taliban. This time it happened in Orakzai agency and the aftermath saw seven Taliban killed.

From DAWN:

Security forces clashed with armed insurgents in Orakzai Agency on Sunday, killing seven suspected militants, DawnNews reported.

According to sources, militants attacked an armed forces convoy, injuring a security personnel. Seven militants were killed in retaliatory action by the forces.

At some point in time, the Pakistani leadership in the military is going to need to go to the Prime Minister and simply state that they have to get back on the "gutting" horse again and gut out some of these agencies. They were cleared out before and the backfill by the Taliban is now about complete and they are back to square one. I've found in the past that when enough Pakistani military are killed by the Taliban, we all of a sudden see some organized military operations planned and executed.

Seven militants killed in Orakzai operation


PESHAWAR: Security forces clashed with armed insurgents in Orakzai Agency on Sunday, killing seven suspected militants, DawnNews reported.

According to sources, militants attacked an armed forces convoy, injuring a security personnel. Seven militants were killed in retaliatory action by the forces.

Orakzai is one of the most lawless areas in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region, which is made up of seven districts near the Afghan border.

The area is home to supporters of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud.

Security forces launched a major operation in the agency in March last year after militants fled a sweeping offensive in the nearby tribal district of South Waziristan.

Pakistani Military Pounds Orakzai Agency With Artillery, Six Taliban Killed

The silent big guns of the Pakistani military were brought to life today as Pakistani artillery pounded a portion of Orakzai agency and then end result was six dead Taliban. The recent operations by the Pakistani military in Mohmand agency haven't yielded much news in the past week but Orakzai has been going on for quite some time.

At this point in time, one has to believe that there are a certain number of Taliban who are moving from agency to agency and province to province - they have had to move on due to either the latest Pakistani military operation or the pressure from U.S. predator drones.

And what has been the result of these latest operations in Pakistan? Well, let me ask this question: When is the last time you saw a report of a major offensive by Pakistani Taliban crossing over into Afghanistan? Those that said "a helluva long time ago" would get to go to the head of the class. I don't get to follow the Afghanistan War as closely as I'd like but it is apparent to me that there simply are not the Taliban attacks on U.S. and NATO forces going on right now...couple that with some reports from U.S. military heads that the Afghan province of Helmand is close to falling to the U.S. and we certainly have good news to report.

Here's the article from DAWN.

Shelling kills six militants in Orakzai


HANGU: Security forces today heavily shelled militant’s positions in lower Orakzai agency, killing six militants, official sources said.

The artillery engaged the militant’s positions in Chapri Feroze Khel area in Lower Orakzai agency that killed six militants and destroyed two hideouts.

Separately, police in Kohat District apprehended 23 suspects including a commander identified as Wahid Jalal. – APP

Taliban Cut Off Hand of Pakistani Tribesman Accused of Theft Under Sharia Law

Again, we see the Taliban making a lot of friends with the locals in Pakistan - this time, the Taliban severed the hand off of a local tribesman in Orakzai agency in the NW part of the country - the Taliban had accused him of stealing and under sharia law, his punishment was the cutting off of his hand.

From the report at DAWN:

Taliban chopped off a hand of a tribesman on Monday after a so-called “Shariat” court of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan found him “guilty” of committing a theft in Orakzai.

The severing of the hand of Abdul Khaliq of Mir was carried out in Qureshan Chowk in Mamozai and was witnessed by local people.

Despite claims made by the political administration and security forces that 90 per cent area of Orakzai had been purged of militants, the outlawed TTP was still very active in several parts of Orakzai.

We need to keep something straight here - the Taliban, when in total control of Afghanistan, ruled the people of Afghanistan exactly this way...this is why a lot of Afghans cringe at the fact that Barack Hussein Obama is withdrawing our troops this year. But what I want to make clear is that the PAKISTANI people have NOT lived under this tyranny of the Taliban so you can imagine what is going through the neighborhoods of the villages as the word of this type of sharia law enforcement is being passed on.

We must also remember that the Taliban see any behavior outside of that governed by sharia as an affront to allah. We have seen some lashkars (civilian militias) formed among the tribes of Pakistan to try and fight back against the Taliban but in most cases they have been either defeated or intimidated out of existence. Too bad...it's time this whole region of Pakistan revolts against all Taliban in their midst.

Taliban chop thief’s hand in Orakzai


KALAYA: Taliban chopped off a hand of a tribesman on Monday after a so-called “Shariat” court of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan found him “guilty” of committing a theft in Orakzai.

The severing of the hand of Abdul Khaliq of Mir was carried out in Qureshan Chowk in Mamozai and was witnessed by local people.

Despite claims made by the political administration and security forces that 90 per cent area of Orakzai had been purged of militants, the outlawed TTP was still very active in several parts of Orakzai.

Militants slit the throat of Gulbat Khan on Sunday night after accusing him of “spying” for security forces in Otmela area of Ismailzai tehsil.

His body, along with a letter, was found in Masammella area on Monday.

In November last year, the banned TTP had publicly flogged 25 alleged drug peddlers in the same region.

Pakistani Gunship Helicopters Continue To Pound Orakzai, 12 Taliban Killed

Just a short blurb here from DAWN but it shows how the Pakistanis continue to pound Orakzai agency in the NW part of the country and the latest gunship helicopter strikes killed 12 Taliban.

This is starting to look more and more like a formal offensive that certainly wasn't announced but we'll take it!

Just a guess on my part but perhaps this is some preliminaries that the Pakistani military is undergoing prior to taking on the major offensive in North Waziristan - I've said before that the North Waziristan operation will more than likely be the most difficult of all previously conducted by the Pakistanis and perhaps Orakzai plays some role in softening that whole operation up.

Twelve militants killed in Orakzai air strikes


KALAYA: At least 12 militants and a security official were killed and 13 others, including five troops, were injured in attacks on security forces and air strikes by gunship helicopters in Orakzai Agency on Thursday.

Officials said that a convoy of security forces was going from Kalaya to Meshti Bazaar area when it was targeted with a remote control device.

A security official was killed and five others wounded, while their vehicle was destroyed.

The security forces cordoned off the area soon after the attack and launched a search operation.

Meanwhile, gunship helicopters targeted suspected locations of rebels in Khadezai, Meshti Kandao and Chappar Mamozai areas of the tribal region, killing 12 militants.

Four hideouts were also destroyed in the air strikes.

Pakistani Military Pounds Taliban For 2nd Day In Orakzai, 13 Taliban Killed By Attack Helicopters

You just know that these Pakistan attack helicopter crews are experiencing only what can be referred to as "shooting fish in a barrel." Today, Pakistani helicopters went on the attack for the 2nd day in a row killing 13 Taliban - yesterday, the death toll from similar strikes was 12.

From the article at DAWN:

At least 13 militants were killed and seven others wounded when gunship helicopters shelled suspected positions of the militants in the northwestern Orakzai region.

Sources said that four suspected hideouts were destroyed during the air strikes.

The security forces also launched a major search operation in the Torkani and Yakh Kandao areas of the agency.

Orakzai agency is holding a lot of Taliban that have fled some of the other agencies and provinces that were targeted with operations earlier this year and last year - places like Swat and South Waziristan and they had begun to set up shop in Orakzai so it looks like the Pakistani military is trying to uproot some of that. At the same time, this may be a clever move by the Pakistanis to ensure that when they move on North Waziristan, Orakzai isn't seen as a welcoming haven.

Thirteen militants killed in Orakzai air strikes


KALAYA: At least 13 militants were killed and seven others wounded when gunship helicopters shelled suspected positions of the militants in the northwestern Orakzai region.

Sources said that four suspected hideouts were destroyed during the air strikes.

The security forces also launched a major search operation in the Torkani and Yakh Kandao areas of the agency.

They said that the security forces also recovered a huge cache of landmines and other explosives during the search operation.

Pakistani Military Unleashes Attack Helicopters In Orakzai, 12 Taliban Blown To Bits

Just a couple of days after the Taliban killed some Pakistani paramilitary forces in the area, Pakistani leadership sent in attack helicopters today to target two known Taliban hideouts and the result was 12 Taliban killed. Tit for tat plus some.

From the article at DAWN:

Airstrikes killed 12 suspected insurgents in the Orakzai tribal region on Saturday, a local government official said.

The helicopter gunships targeted two suspected militant hide-outs in the region.

The day before, a roadside bomb blast killed six paramilitary soldiers in Orakzai, where the army has waged an offensive against the Taliban.

I like this response by the Pakistani military - it's got a touch of IDF to it - a quick, and deadly response to aggression by the Taliban. The signal being sent is....you kill some of our soldiers, you will pay an immediate severe penalty.

And since I'm on the subject of action by the Pakistani military, I'm getting a bit concerned about this offensive that was announced a few weeks ago for North Waziristan. Ever since that was leaked, I haven't read or heard a word about it and I'm hoping that isn't a bad sign.

The Pakistanis really do need to gut out North Waziristan and although it would be a bloody and complicated task, no other operation would disrupt the Taliban and al Qaeda more in the country of Pakistan. My prediction has been that if the Pakistani military moves head long into North Waziristan, we would see American and NATO forces in southern Afghanistan taking down hundreds....yes, hundreds...of Taliban each day as the whole are would looke like a bee hive that had been poked with a stick.

Twelve militants killed in Orakzai airstrikes


PARACHINAR: Airstrikes killed 12 suspected insurgents in the Orakzai tribal region on Saturday, a local government official said.

The helicopter gunships targeted two suspected militant hide-outs in the region.

The day before, a roadside bomb blast killed six paramilitary soldiers in Orakzai, where the army has waged an offensive against the Taliban.

Local government administrator Aurangzeb Khan said Saturday's airstrikes also wounded six militants.

Independent confirmation of the strikes and death toll is nearly impossible because access to the conflict zone is restricted. — AP

Taliban Attempt Another Ambush in Orakzai, Pakistan - and Another 30 Taliban Are Now Dead and Gone

Talk about throwing bad after worse...the Taliban in Orakzai agency tried yet another ambush of Pakistani troops and the same usual scenario resulted - a battlefield full of dead Taliban, with 30 of the jihadists being killed.

This brings the total number of Taliban killed in Orakzai to 1500 in just the past in the past three months - that's an average of about 15-20 per day, every day. I know, I know, it's a real shame, huh?

The report at DAWN is here.

Thirty militants killed in Orakzai fighting


KALAYA: Thirty militants and three security personnel were killed in a clash in Dabori area of Orakzai on Wednesday.

The clash is reported to have taken place after a group of militants tried to encircle troops near Zokhtan.

Three soldiers—Ramazan, Ghulam Bashir and Mehrab—were killed and five others—Ghulam Sarwar, Tanveer Shah, Kalimullah, Khasadars Naeem and Qayyum—were injured.

The injured were taken to the Kohat CMH in a helicopter.

After suffering heavy causalities, the militants fled to nearby Gandi Tal area and troops took control of their stronghold in Rokhtan.

A curfew was imposed and troops launched a search operation.

AFP adds: A security official said about 50 Taliban fighters attacked a convoy to block the movement of troops in the area.

Three soldiers were killed in the Taliban attack, he said, adding that troops retaliated and killed 33 militants.

“We have recovered 17 bodies from the site of the encounter,” another official said.

A spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps confirmed the clash but gave no details, beyond saying that troops had “occupied important heights” near the towns of Ghiljo and Sambagha “after encountering stiff resistance”.

Pakistani Military Launches Sunday Onslaught in Orakzai Agency, 58 Taliban Killed

You know, if you had gone out on your deck or out into your yard very early this morning and listened very closely to the West, you just might have heard JDAMs and rockets from Pakistani aircraft doing one helluva number on Taliban forces in the NW Pakistani area of Orakzai Agency. When all of the dust, blood and body parts settled, 58 Taliban were killed in the strikes.

From the report at Breitbart:

PARACHINAR, Pakistan (AP) - The military killed 58 suspected militants in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday with a mix of airstrikes and ground combat, the latest violence in a months-long campaign to rout Taliban fighters from a mountainous area near the Afghan border.
The Pakistani military launched the ongoing offensive in the Orakzai tribal region in mid-March to flush out militants who last year fled an army offensive in nearby South Waziristan. Persistent artillery and aircraft attacks have killed hundreds of insurgents over the past two months, the military says.

Fighter jets and helicopter gunships attacked militant sanctuaries Sunday in the villages of Dabori, Gojar and Kamer Mela in Orakzai, killing 40 suspected insurgents, said Samiullah Khan, a senior government administrator in Orakzai.

Later in the day, troops attacked militant hide-outs in Koul village, triggering clashes that killed 18 suspected insurgents, said Jehanzeb Khan, a local administrator. Five soldiers and at least 25 militants were wounded in the fighting. The injured militants were taken into custody, he said.

We've discussed it before that Orakzai has become a funneling point for Taliban who have been chased out of Swat, South and North Waziristan and even the southern points of Afghanistan and the Pakistani military is finding it like shooting fish in a barrel. It's my feeling that at some point in time, the Taliban are going to have to make a decision - to continue to try and continue their holing up in Pakistan or to go back to Afghanistan and take their chances. At this point, even with the U.S. predator attacks and the Pakistani military offensives, it is still safer than facing U.S. Marines in southern Afghanistan but that could certainly change - losing 58 jihadis in one day is going to sour even the toughest Taliban leaders against the safe haven status of Pakistan.

Pakistani military kills 58 suspected militants



PARACHINAR, Pakistan (AP) - The military killed 58 suspected militants in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday with a mix of airstrikes and ground combat, the latest violence in a months-long campaign to rout Taliban fighters from a mountainous area near the Afghan border.
The Pakistani military launched the ongoing offensive in the Orakzai tribal region in mid-March to flush out militants who last year fled an army offensive in nearby South Waziristan. Persistent artillery and aircraft attacks have killed hundreds of insurgents over the past two months, the military says.

Fighter jets and helicopter gunships attacked militant sanctuaries Sunday in the villages of Dabori, Gojar and Kamer Mela in Orakzai, killing 40 suspected insurgents, said Samiullah Khan, a senior government administrator in Orakzai.

Later in the day, troops attacked militant hide-outs in Koul village, triggering clashes that killed 18 suspected insurgents, said Jehanzeb Khan, a local administrator. Five soldiers and at least 25 militants were wounded in the fighting. The injured militants were taken into custody, he said.

It was impossible to independently confirm the casualties and their identities because the region is remote and dangerous and media access restricted.

Thousands of people have fled the offensive in the area and many have moved in with relatives in nearby districts.

Elsewhere in Pakistan's tribal region Sunday, militants who kidnapped 60 people at gunpoint the day before released 40 of their hostages, said local administrator Rasheed Khan.

Another 10 people told the local government they managed to escape the militants, who ambushed the group in Kurram as they headed to the northwestern city of Peshawar, said Khan.

The hostages released by the militants were mostly women, children and poor men, said Khan. The kidnappers kept the wealthier men so they could demand ransom from their families, he said.

"Now the militants only have 10 people in their custody, and efforts are under way to recover them," said Khan.

Pakistani Forces and Lashkars Keep Sticking It To The Taliban, 26 Taliban Killed Today

Let's put it this way, the Taliban might want to think twice about staying in Orakzai Agency in NW Pakistan. This is the third day in a row that over 20 Taliban have been sent to the halls of Hades in search of half goat, half swine virgins.

One thing to note in the article below from DAWN is that one of the clashes that produced the dead Taliban involved tribal lashkar forces - I imagine they are celebrating tonight after killing off the vermin.

At least 26 militants killed in clashes


PESHAWAR: Clashes between security forces and militants in Orakzai Agency have led to the deaths of at least 26 militants.

Accoding to sources militants in lower Orakzai attacked the FC Fort with rocket fire which led to an officer being injured. Five militants were killed in retaliatory fire.

Six militants were killed in the Karga area of Lower Orakzai during clashes between militants and tribal lashkars.

While in the Upper Orakzai area of Bagori clashes led to 15 militants being killed and three security officials being injured. -DawnNews

Pakistani Military Avenges Taliban Hit On Security Post, 40 Taliban Killed In Orakzai

Today in Pakistan's Orakzai Agency, the Pakistani military decided to pay the Taliban back for a Taliban attack on a security outpost and pay they did with 40 Taliban being killed in the retalitory strikes.

From the report at The Washington Post:

Pakistani security forces killed dozens of Taliban in a counter offensive in northwestern Orakzai region on Monday after an attack on a security checkpost, officials said.
The militants attacked the checkpost in Shirin Darra, about 10 km (six miles) from the region's main town of Kalaya early in the morning, killing two soldiers.
"Initial reports suggest 35 to 40 militants have been killed," Khaista Rehman, a regional government official told Reuters.
A senior military official in the region confirmed the clash and the death toll, but there was no independent confirmation.

I'd like to hear more about this operation because it is being reported as being carried out by "security forcs" as in on the ground troops versus an airstrike or helicopter operation. But hey, to have 40 Taliban dead to start your Monday isn't half bad, huh?

Orakzai Agency has become the latest death mall for the Taliban lately with numerous Pakistani airstrikes and mini operations to root Taliban out of this area after it got flooded by the jihadis after operations in Swat and South Waziristan. It's also my feeling that the U.S. predator drone action that has been relentless in North Waziristan has also sent Taliban into Orakzai.

It's very encouraging to see the Pakistanis pushing back so immediately with a response like this - it's setting the stage for some serious learning curves by the Taliban.

Pakistani forces kill up to 40 militants in Orakzai


HANGU, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani security forces killed dozens of Taliban in a counter offensive in northwestern Orakzai region on Monday after an attack on a security checkpost, officials said.

The militants attacked the checkpost in Shirin Darra, about 10 km (six miles) from the region's main town of Kalaya early in the morning, killing two soldiers.

"Initial reports suggest 35 to 40 militants have been killed," Khaista Rehman, a regional government official told Reuters.

A senior military official in the region confirmed the clash and the death toll, but there was no independent confirmation.

Orakzai is one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous ethnic Pashtun tribal regions, known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), strung out along the Afghan border.

Pakistani security forces have stepped up assaults in the northwest over the past year, largely clearing militants from the Swat valley, northwest of Islamabad, and the South Waziristan and Bajaur regions on the Afghan border.

Fighting has intensified in recent weeks in Orakzai and the neighboring Khyber region, where officials said militants who fled the earlier sweeps had taken refuge.

Military officials said a large number of militants, including foreigners, are believed to have taken shelter in the remote Tirah Valley in Khyber.

MILITANT TRAINING CENTRES

Tirah is a forested, mountainous area on the borders of Orakzai, Khyber and Afghanistan and is a stronghold of the Lashkar-e-Islam, or Army of Islam, a militant group linked with Pakistani Taliban.

Forty-five people were killed in an attack by security forces in the valley on Saturday. Militants said civilians were also killed in the attack but military officials denied that.

The main route for Western forces' supplies trucked from Karachi port to landlocked Afghanistan winds through the Khyber Pass and militants have frequently attacked convoys there.

The security forces' successes over past year have eased fears that nuclear-armed Pakistan, a vital ally for the United States as it struggles to stabilize Afghanistan, was sliding into chaos.

Similarly, hopes for an easing of destabilizing political wrangling were raised last week when the National Assembly unanimously passed a set of constitutional reforms curbing the powers of unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari.

Optimism has been reflected in Pakistan's stock market, where the main index is at levels not seen since 2008, supported by foreign buying. Net foreign portfolio inflows were $113 million in March, the second highest monthly inflow ever.

100th Taliban For The Week Killed In Pakistani Airstrike In Orakzai

That's right, the total is now at 100 for the number of Taliban that have died this week in Pakistani air force strikes on the rag headed vermin along the Afghan border in Orakzai agency. This latest strike came today and killed nine Taliban. One hundred. Beautiful.

From the article at Google News:

9 alleged militants killed in Pakistan: official


PARACHINAR, Pakistan — Pakistani airstrikes killed nine suspected insurgents Saturday in a tribal region near the Afghan border, an official said, bringing the total killed in a military offensive there to more than 100 this week.

The fighting occurred in Orakzai, a tribal region where many Pakistani Taliban militants are believed to have fled to avoid an earlier army offensive in their main stronghold farther south.

The clashes illustrate a central difficulty of Islamabad's efforts to eliminate the Pakistani Taliban: As security forces clear out one area, the militants slip into other parts of a tribal belt where hide-outs are plentiful and the government presence is minimal.

The helicopter strikes Friday targeted several militant hide-outs while ground forces were clearing various areas in Orakzai, local official Sami Ullah said.

On Friday, officials said Taliban fighters seized a security checkpoint in the region, sparking clashes that killed five soldiers and 32 alleged insurgents. Security forces regained the site. Earlier in the week, airstrikes killed at least 61 suspected insurgents, officials said.

Many of the dead insurgents in the Orakzai tribal region were Arab and Uzbek, said Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan, the commander of the Frontier Corps, a major force in the battle against the Pakistani Taliban in the northwest.

The U.S. has praised Pakistani efforts to root out militants, saying fighting extremists on the Pakistani side of the porous border is key to winning the war against the related Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban have been under pressure in their main stronghold, the South Waziristan tribal region, since the army launched its ground offensive there in October. Since then, the Orakzai, Kurram and North Waziristan tribal regions are believed to have become favored sanctuaries for militants fleeing South Waziristan.

Orakzai also is a major base for supporters of Hakimullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban's top commander, who is believed to have died in a U.S. missile strike in January. The Taliban have denied Mehsud is dead, but have not shown any evidence he is still alive.

The inaccessibility of the regions makes it very difficult to get independent confirmation of the casualty figures provided by officials and the identity of those killed. Civilian casualties are rarely, if ever, mentioned in army accounts of the fighting.