http://www.hipakistan.com/en/detail.php?newsId=en69509&F_catID=&f_type=source
7 troops injured in Azam Warsak landmine blast
WANA - The military and paramilitary troops here have been put on high alert after seven jawans of the armed forces sustained serious injuries when a military vehicle hit a landmine near the border town of Azam Warsak on Monday. According to unconfirmed reports, three other military vehicles also hit landmines in Santoyee area, causing injuries to their occupants.
Besides, the security forces and suspected terrorists continued exchange of firing for the third day running. Sources said, a military vehicle on its way to Gara Panga near the border town of Azam Warsak hit a high intensity landmine planted on the road by the suboteurs. They said that seven jawans of the forces were wounded. Condition of the three wounded is stated to be critical. The vehicle was also badly damaged by the mine explosion.
Soon after the tragic incident, high-ranking military officers and jawans rushed to the site and shifted the victims to hospitals in Wana, the headquarter of South Waziristan Agency. Some of the seriously injured have been airlifted to Peshawar from Wana by helicopters and admitted to the military hospitals.
Explosions were also reported in Santoyee where three vehicles were hit by landmines, and also at Bagh Nari and Zarana areas where one military vehicle each was hit by landmines. However, there was no official confirmation of such reports. A number of tribesmen from the affected villages have claimed witnessing the landmines damaged vehicles.
After these explosions, first of its kind in South Waziristan Agency, the military and paramilitary troops stationed in Wana and its surrounding areas have been put on high alert. The forces were also directed to clear all the roads and routes keeping in view the growing landmine incidents.
On the other hand, the landmine attacks are likely to add to the problems of already beleaguered and affected tribesmen as, according to their territorial responsibilities, they are bound to produce the culprits.
Meanwhile, the military troops and suspected militants hiding in mountains of Shakai Valley, Miami, Mantoyee and Santoyee continued exchange of firing on the third consecutive day on Monday. The militants overnight Monday attacked the military troops camping in different parts of Shakai valley with modern weapons, sources said. The troops also retaliated and shelled the suspected hideouts with artillery. The shelling of the suspected hideouts and firing exchange between the two sides continued till the afternoon. Though exact number of casualties in the clashes could not be ascertained, unconfirmed reports claim that so far 10 people have been killed and over a dozen injured during the last three days. Most of the victims are said to be tribesmen.
Tribesmen leave for safer place amid intense firing
Awar Din Mehsud adds from Jandola: A large number of tribesmen from Santoyee and Mantoyee, fearing threat to their lives as a result of exchange of firing between the security forces and suspected terrorists, are leaving their homes and moving towards other cities and town of the area. During the last three days a large number of artillery shells reportedly hit the populated areas. The mortars and rockets fired by the militants from their suspected hideouts in the mountains also landed in the affected villages. Witnesses said dozens of shells, mortars and bullets of sophisticated weapons hit the civilian houses and other properties at Khamrang, Santoyee and Mantoyee villages. The Santoyee village is dominated by Ahmadzai Wazir tribesmen while Mantoyee is dominated by Mehsud tribesmen. However, tribesmen from both the sides weredisturbed by the frequent exchange of firing and now they have started leaving their homes. So far 10 civilians in the area were reported to be have sustained bullet wounds.
A large number of tribesmen from Santoyee, Mantoyee and Khamrang Monday left for other places by foot as there was no transportation system available after the imposition of economic sunctions. Women and children were seen walking towards other nearby towns like Razmak and Jandola for getting vehicles for their destinations. The Mehsud tribesmen are going towards Makeen and Jandola tehsils while the Ahmadzai Wazir tribesmen are struggling to reach Tank, Dera Ismael Khan and Bannu cities.
The initial erroneous reports seem to be settling down towards two main engagements, one near Azam Warsak, SW of Kaloosha, and one in the northwestern highlands of the Shakai Valley, specifically around Mantoi and Santoi. Mantoyee and Mantoi are one and the same, as are Sangtoi, Santoi, and Santoyee.
All are marked, along with several other villages of possible interest, in a new map at:
http://host1.in-motion.net/~jefft/tech/Mapping/afghanistan/index.html
Scroll down to the third line, looking for "Mantoi 6/13/2004"
I have adjusted the layout of the page somewhat to resolve some alignment issues noted at lower resolutions, and the page has been tested for monitors set at 800x600, 1024x768, and 1280x1024. The maps are optimized for 1280x1024 resolution, those using lower resolutions may find that image browsing software with zoom and pan capabilities increases the utility of the maps.
Regarding the operations themselves, it appears that the enemy intention is to hold foothill villages guarding the main ridgelines in the area. Note that both Mantoi and Sangtoi are located in terrain chokepoints and both guard numerous approaches to high passes with ridgeline access.