Violation: Missile from Afghanistan kills three in S Waziristan

Several mortars were fired from Afghan territory

DI KHAN: Three men were killed and another sustained injuries on Thursday when a missile fired from Afghan territory struck a local bakery in South Waziristan Agency.

According to an official from the political administration, several missiles were fired from Afghanistan at around 2pm. These missiles hit different places of Birmal close to the Angor Adda area of the agency.

“One of the missiles, however, landed on a Nanbai’s (baker’s) shop in Birmal Bazaar and killed three people while injuring another,” he said.

After the incident, the dead and the injured were shifted to Wana’s Agency Headquarters Hospital, where the dead were identified as Musa Khan, Abdul Qayum and Abdul Qadir – all reportedly belonging to the same family.

Birmal, a mountainous region inhabited by the Wazir clan sub-tribe of Ahmadzai, straddles both sides of the border. In the past, this place has witnessed several missile attacks in which the Ahmadzai tribesmen have suffered both human and material losses.

The Birmal Gate at Pakistan-Afghanistan border was opened last week after a lapse of six months to allow border transportation. Opening of the gate was good news for the locals as it restored the local trade and business, especially agriculture products from Wana.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd,  2016.