Pakistan's army claimed Monday it had killed at least 15 pro-Taliban militants, who had taken control over several villages and towns in country's restive north-west valley of Swat, according to dpa. "We have secured back a lot of area in the latest operation and will continue the ongoing action until all the militants are flushed out of the region," chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said. "According to the reports we received from our local sources, they confirm the deaths of 15 militants." The fresh clashes came one day after gunship helicopters and artillery pounded militants' positions in at least three villages in the scenic valley, killing 30 insurgents. One soldier also died and two were injured in the combat.
