Talking to a group of journalists in northern Peshawar city Core Commander Lieutenant General Asif Yaseen Malik said that a Jirga was held before the launching of an operation in Kurram tribal agency and they themselves demanded the military for an action against militants.
It may be mentioned here that the US had been demanding the military to launch operation in North Waziristan tribal agency, where hundreds of militants of Arab and Central Asian origin are believed to have been hiding.
Briefing journalists on military operation in Mohmand tribal agency, the commander said that it has reached in its final phase and that most of the areas had been cleared of militants.
He said that about 68 soldiers have so far been killed in different operations and 300 were wounded. Whereas, he added, 200 militants were killed.
Earlier, Brigadier Aftab, the Operation Commander in Mohmand agency, told newsmen that 40 militants were killed in an operation in the last few days.