Official: Pakistan army kills 9 more insurgents near Afghan border

Official: Pakistani troops kill 9 militants in NW

PARACHINAR, Pakistan — A government official says Pakistani army helicopters targeting militant hide-outs have killed nine insurgents near the Afghan border.

Sami Ullah said Saturday that ground forces were clearing areas in the Orakzai tribal region, where authorities launched an operation this past week. So far, more than 100 insurgents and five soldiers have died in the clashes.

Orakzai is considered a major base for the Pakistani Taliban.

Many of the insurgent group’s fighters are believed to have fled to Orakzai and the nearby Kurram tribal region to escape a major army offensive in the South Waziristan tribal area.