Pakistan troops regain key tunnel in northwest

By Mohammad Hashim

KOHAT, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani forces recaptured a road tunnel leading to the volatile tribal belt on the Afghan border on Sunday after killing around two dozen pro-Taliban militants in a fierce battle, the military said.

Militants captured the Japanese-built tunnel on the main road link between Peshawar, capital of the North West Frontier Province, and the tribal belt during fighting near Darra Adam Kheil tribal region on Saturday.

The clashes erupted on Friday after militants seized four trucks carrying ammunition and other supplies for the troops.

"After fierce fighting, the security forces have cleared the area of miscreants and are in control of Kohat tunnel and surrounding areas," a military statement said, referring to the garrison town situated on the southern end of the tunnel.

"Reportedly 24 miscreants have been killed, many have fled leaving behind huge quantity of arms and ammunition." Around 45 militants and two soldiers were killed in earlier clashes.

The statement did not say whether there were any losses on the troops' side.

Violence has spread across Pakistan, mainly in Frontier Province, after an army assault on a militant mosque in the capital Islamabad in July last year. Hundreds of people, including soldiers, have been killed in suicide and bomb attacks since then.

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