Ground Operation begins in North Waziristan

Peshawar-After two weeks of heavy bombing and day and night artillery shelling,security forces came out of their heavily guarded camps in Miran Shah,and started ground operation by destroying suspected militant hideouts.

The ISPR in a statement said that fifteen militants were killed in exchange of fire during house to house search in Miranshah,the Capital of North Waziristan.

Security official yesterday said that it was second time during the past one week that the security forces had conducted a ground operation.He said it was a major attacks in which hundreds of soldiers participated,backed by Air planes and Helicopter gunships along with the tanks,he said several military hideouts and sanctuaries in the Miranshah Bazaar were destroyed during the operation.

'We have details of each and every place where the terrorists used to make plans and hide, military official said.However he added that the troops didn't face significant resistance during the daylong operation.

'The start has been taken from Miranshah and after clearing it and adjoining areas the operation will extend to other areas of North Waziristan',he said.Though the tribal Leaders are still insisting that thousands of people still trapped in villages but the army claims that the ground operation has been started after complete evacuation.

According to the ISPR security forces have taken control of the ground tunnels where the explosives were made.He said that the area was cleared after a gun battle with militants the injured three soldiers.

He said that people and militants had left Miranshah before operation and shifted to other areas of Waziristan like Razmak.He also said that those areas would be cleared too.

Some of the people were still there guarding their belongings but they would leave soon a tribesman added.

Army official said since the start of operation,374 terrorists had been killed and 19 had surrendered.61 hideouts have been destroyed and 17 soldiers embraced martyrdom.