PESHAWAR: At least 15 militants were killed and eight of their hideouts destroyed near the Pak-Afghan border area after cross-border mortar shelling targeted a security checkpost in upper Kurram Agency, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Tuesday.
Aerial strikes were conducted in the Alwara Mandi, Khar-Tangi and Maizer areas ahead of Datta Khel near North Waziristan, ISPR said.
Earlier today, security officials claimed unidentified militants fired at least three mortar shells at a Frontier Corps security checkpost in Qaimatey from Afghanistan.
The attackers dispersed after security forces responded with retaliatory fire. No casualties or damage were reported. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the shelling in a statement emailed to journalists.
IED blast injures seven
An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion injured seven Frontier Corps (FC) personnel in South Waziristan’s tehsil Tayarza.
The FC vehicle was on routine patrolling of the area when it came under attack.
Security forces sealed the area and commenced a search operation in the area.
Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border. It lies adjacent to North Waziristan.
The region was claimed by the military to have been cleared of insurgents during an operation a couple of years ago, however, militants still carry out sectarian attacks and also target security forces occasionally.
The mortar attack on the border comes amid high tensions in the agencies.
Yesterday, an indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Mohmand Agency after various clashes between militants and security forces, which left nine khasadars dead last week.
One suspected militant was also injured in a drone strike in Kurram Agency on Monday.
