Pakistani security forces killed at least 22 militants in combat over the weekend in the restive Kurram tribal region bordering Afghanistan, media reports said on Sunday, according to dpa. It is believed that hundreds of Taliban fighters have fled to Kurram and other nearby districts to escape the army offensive in the South Waziristan tribal badlands, that are said to contain countless al-Qaeda sanctuaries. Troops backed by attack helicopters pushed into the Lower Kurram region on Saturday, killing up to 15 insurgents, including a local commander identified as Walidad, Geo News television channel said. The clashes continued through the night and seven more rebels were killed Sunday morning, the report said. Five soldiers also died during the two days of combat. Geo said Taliban fighters were putting up a strong resistance to the military, which had destroyed several rebel hideouts.
