Cross-border attack: Nine militants killed as forces repulse incursion

Malakand chapter of the Taliban claims responsibility for the raid.

UPPER DIR:

Nine militants were killed and several others were injured as security forces repulsed a cross-border assault on a check post in the Bin Shahi area of Barawal Valley on Thursday.

Two security personnel were also killed when they stepped on land mines during the battle, an official said.

The official said that dozens of militants from Afghanistan sneaked into Pakistani territory around 2:00 pm and attacked the check-post, in which two personnel identified as Jamil and Mumtaz were killed when they stepped on a mine while fighting the attackers. One security official, identified as Mudassir, was injured.

The official added that the exchange of fire continued till 6:00 pm in which nine militants were killed and 13 injured. “The attackers took the bodies of their fallen comrades and injured with them back to Afghanistan,” the official added.

A spokesperson for the Malakand chapter of the Taliban, while claiming responsibility for the raid, said that they have inflicted heavy casualties on the security force.

On Tuesday, security forces had repulsed a similar attack by the militants on a security check post in the area, killing two militants. In June, 17 security personnel were killed when dozens of militants from Afghanistan stormed security check posts in the Sunai Darra and Gulunu Sar areas of Barawal.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2012.