Taliban using Dangam residents as shields: MoD

KABUL’s tribal region of Bajaur, is going on successfully, the Ministry of Defence on Thursday.

Led by the 201^st Selab Military Corps and coordinated with the National Afghan Police (ANP), National Directorate of Security (NDS) and local residents, the offensive had weakened the fighters, it said.

A statement from MoD said the operation had been slow but planned and executed cautiously. “Foreign terrorists are using local residents as shields and that is why we have been careful,” the MoD explained.

The statement added most of local roads had been mined and needed to be cleared cautiously. The mountainous terrain, thick forests and cold weather are other factors behind the complexity of the offensive.

Two weeks ago, hundreds of Taliban militants — backed by Pakistani fighters — stormed Dangam district, forcing residents to take up arms. More than 100 militants including 17 Pakistanis have been killed during airstrikes and land operation.

mds