Pakistani Federal Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao Friday conceded the loss of 11 soldiers in two days of fighting in the country's North Waziristan tribal areas as helicopter gunships again bombed villages to flush out militants who had been offering stiff resistance to Pakistan Army troops, The News reported Saturday.

The intense fighting has caused casualties on both sides and forced hundreds of villagers to evacuate to safer places. The village of Khattay Killay, scene of most of the fighting, has reportedly been emptied of the population due to the intense exchange of fire in the area and the constant threat to life and property.

Precise casualty figures were not available, primarily due to the fact that fighting was still going on in the area. Interior Minister Sherpao said six troops were killed on Thursday while another five died on Friday.

The minister estimated that 25 to 30 militants were also killed in the fighting.

However, Sherpao did not say anything about reports that 20 soldiers had gone missing after being deployed in the Khattay Killay area.

Earlier, tribal militants from all over North Waziristan were reported to have rushed to Khattay Killay to join the fighting and resist the military.

In the past months, Pakistani troops have launched operations in North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan to search for Al-Qaeda terrorists and their local supporters.

Source: Xinhua