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    June 17, 2011

11 Militants Killed in Clashes with Pakistani Forces

   VOA News
   Paramilitary soldiers stand guard along a road where tribesmen gathered
   to protest against an alleged firing incident in Chaman, along the
   Afghan border June 17, 2011. Photo: Reuters
   Paramilitary soldiers stand guard along a road where tribesmen gathered
   to protest against an alleged firing incident in Chaman, along the
   Afghan border June 17, 2011.

   Government officials say Pakistani security forces have killed at least
   11 militants during clashes in the country's northwest tribal region.
   Friday's fighting in the Mamund area of the Bajaur tribal area also
   killed a local tribesman.
   Security forces launched a search operation in the region one day after
   hundreds of militants reportedly crossed the border from Afghanistan
   and attacked a village in Bajaur. Five civilians were killed in
   Thursday's cross-border attack.
   Pakistani forces have carried out a number of military operations
   against Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants in Bajaur.
   In Pakistan's southwest Friday, local tribesmen briefly blocked NATO
   supplies and other traffic on a highway near the Chaman border crossing
   in Baluchistan province.
   Officials say the tribesmen were protesting an incident the day before,
   in which Afghan forces fired on tribesmen at the border, wounding eight
   people.
   Pakistani officials assured the tribesmen that their grievance would be
   brought up at the next meeting with Afghan and NATO troops.

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