Four children injured in mortar shelling in Bajaur

Militants escape after launching attack from the Pak-Afghan border.

PESHAWAR: At least four children including three girls were injured when suspected militants from across the border in Afghanistan fired mortar shells in the Bajaur tribal region on Thursday, sources said.

The incident took place in the Kaza area of the Mamoond tehsil in Bajaur Agency when suspected militants fired mortars from across the border.

Sources told The Express Tribune that militants launched another attack in the area, which the security forces and volunteers of the local lashkar fought off and militants escaped back into Afghanistan. However, no casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, injured children were shifted to the Agency Headquarters Hospital Khar. They were reportedly 10-12 years-old and identified as Munasib, Shazia, Palwasha and Shazia.

Incidents of cross-border incursions of late have been on the rise in the areas along the Pak-Afghan border touching Bajaur, Upper and Lower Dir and Chitral districts. The Pakistani Taliban – who have taken shelter in the Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan – have claimed responsibilities for many such attacks.

Two months earlier, militants from Kunar had also kidnapped about 30 children from Bajaur Agency and most of them are still in the custody of the Taliban militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2011.