A paramilitary group in Pakistan's Khyber region says Pakistani forces have killed 22 insurgents near the Afghan border.
The Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force, also said Saturday that helicopters destroyed three militant hideouts.
The
attacks came a day after Pakistan's military arrested the chief Taliban
spokesman, Muslim Khan, in the Swat Valley along with four other
Taliban leaders. The army says the five militants were taken into
custody during a security operation near Mingora, the main town in the
Swat Valley.
The detentions are the first major arrests since
the government launched a military offensive in April to regain control
of the region.
An official military statement said the
militants were being questioned and troops were conducting raids based
on information obtained from the men.
The arrests are a blow to Taliban insurgents in Pakistan.
Last
month, chief commander Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a suspected U.S.
missile attack on his hideout near the Afghan border.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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