Pak pounds Taliban hideout, militants threaten to kill hostages

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban on Sunday threatened to execute 29 hostages if the Pakistan government did not halt an operation against them after security forces pounded their hideouts with helicopter gunships following an overnight attack on a fort in the restive North West Frontier Province. Three Frontier Corps personnel were injured when Taliban fighters attacked the paramilitary fort in Torawari area of Hangu district. Following the assault on the outpost, security forces used mortars and gunship helicopters to pound militant hideouts in nearby areas, officials were quoted as saying by TV channels. The gunship helicopters also struck Taliban positions at three places in the Kurram tribal agency, which borders Hangu district. Reports said a civilian was injured in the attacks. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Maulvi Omar told... [read full story]