AgNoStiC MuSliM
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Air strikes kill 61 suspected militants in Orakzai
Thursday, 25 Mar, 2010
The jet fire rained in two spells during the day in the Mamuzai area where many Taliban leaders are believed to have fled.
PARACHINAR: Pakistani military air strikes killed 61 suspected militants in an area near the Afghan border Thursday, including dozens at a seminary where Taliban commanders were believed to be meeting, officials said.
The jet fire rained in two spells during the day in the Mamuzai area of Orakzai, a tribal region where many Taliban leaders are believed to have fled to avoid an army ground offensive further south.
Alongside the religious seminary, a mosque and a school were targeted, local official Samiullah Orakzai said.
Two intelligence officials said the seminary was a main center for Tableeghi Jamaat, a non-violent Islamic missionary group. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.
The center was targeted because a group of Taliban leaders were believed to be meeting there in the afternoon.
Some four dozen people died in the airstrikes in and around the seminary, while 13 others were killed in morning strikes at the two other sites.
The officials said all 61 were suspected militants. Independent confirmation of the death toll or the victims' identities was nearly impossible because access to the tribal region is restricted.AP
DAWN.COM | Provinces | Air strikes kill 61 suspected militants in Orakzai
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I am concerned that all the targets may not turn out to be militants.
Hopefully will be clarified in the next few days.