Militancy in tribal region: Two soldiers killed in attack Bannu check post

Assailants were armed with sophisticated weapons

HANGU/ BANNU/ JAMRUD: At least two soldiers and three suspected militants were killed early Thursday in an attack on a security check post in Bannu.

According to security officials, a group of militants ambushed the post at Dayoba, which is situated on the outskirts of Bannu district, prompting retaliatory fire from security forces.

“Around 10 militants attacked the security forces’ check
post outside Bannu suddenly under cover of darkness,” said a senior security official in the area.

Armed with sophisticated weapons, the assailants mounted a fierce attack on the check post, which left two soldiers dead. In response, three attackers were killed in the firefight that followed.

Additional contingents of security personnel reached the site and cordoned off the area. But the attackers managed to flee the crime scene.

Separately, a proclaimed commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was killed by the Qaumi Lashkar in Lower Orakzai Agency. The political administration claimed that the commander was allegedly involved in several kidnappings and blasts.  Similarly, in Jamrud area a notorious commander was captured during a search operation.

The army is engaged in a fierce operation in the tribal region to clear out the militants and secure the country’s border with Afghanistan. The campaign against Taliban and other militant strongholds in the North Waziristan tribal area was launched in June last year and authorities have now vowed to intensify operations both in the border regions and across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2015.