Seven soldiers killed in North Waziristan gun battle

Seven soldiers embraced martyrdom after a gun battle late on Sunday night in North Waziristan, along the border with the Afghan border.

At least 19 militants, including five commanders were also killed during the exchange of fire.

“19 terrorists were killed, including 5 of their commanders, in an intense exchange of fire with security forces last night in an uncleared pocket along the North Waziristan-Afghan border,” Inter Services Public Relations said in a statement.

“When being chased and cordoned, one militant exploded himself killing seven soldiers.”

North Waziristan has largely been purged of terrorists, yet targeted air strikes and sporadic clashes continue in the area which was once the stronghold of homegrown militants and their foreign cohorts.

North Waziristan has been off limits for media persons since the military launched a massive operation in the region, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb, in mid-July, last year. Hundreds of thousands of tribesmen displaced by the operation have started returning to their homes in areas declared safe by the military.