SHALTALO: Hundreds of militants stormed Upper Dir and destroyed eight schools, after a cross-border raid stretched into its third day on Friday.
Afghan Taliban militants had crossed over into Pakistan and attacked Shaltalo checkpoint in the northwestern district of Upper Dir and sparked a long and fierce gun battle.
The militants have now taken refuge in the Bin Shahi area, located on the border. Fresh troops have entered the area and gunship helicopters have also carried out shelling. Mortars are also being fired from the Samarbagh area.
The Shaltalo checkpoint has been cleared and is under the control of the military.
At least 27 security personnel and three civilians were killed in a battle with the intruding militants, officials said. Some 45 militants were also killed in a joint operation of the paramilitary troops and police, said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Inspector General of Police Fayaz Toru.
After the first clash, Pakistan conveyed "strong concern" to the Afghan ambassador to Islamabad, calling for "stern action" by Afghan and US-led NATO troops to crack down on militants in eastern Afghanistan.
Shaltalo and Nusrat Darra are surrounded by mountains and forest, about six kilometres from the border with Afghanistan's Kunar province.
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