Army official, 20 militants killed in Kurram clash

Four others were killed in a separate, but similar attack.

PESHAWAR:

A Pakistan Army major was killed when militants attacked a check post in central Kurram Agency.

In an apparent reaction to the military offensive carried out in the region earlier, about 60 militants attacked the Marazan check post late Tuesday night.

In the retaliatory fire, more than 20 militants were reportedly killed and nine militant hideouts were destroyed by the security forces. The deceased was identified as Major Sikandar.

“The militants were hiding in nearby mountains and opened fire on the convoy, followed by rockets,” a security official said. “Security forces retaliated and killed 20 militants. One of our majors succumbed to his wounds,” the official added.

While the area had been declared “clear” by security forces earlier, incidents of violence were regularly reported.

In a separate incident, officials confirmed a second attack from militants in the Shadala area of Ghaljo, where rockets were fired at a convoy. “The second attack happened in the same manner like the one in Kurram Agency,” a security official said.

“The militants were hiding and targeted the convoy. In retaliatory fire, four militants were killed. One of our soldiers sustained minor injuries and is out of danger now,” the officials added.

Earlier, a policeman was killed, and another one injured, when a remote-controlled explosion took place near a police check post in the Shabqadar Tehsil of Charsadda.

Police officials added that the check post was situated on a main road, linking Mohmand Agency with Charsadda and Peshawar. The funeral prayers of the slain policeman were held with senior police officials, including Peshawar city police officer in attendance.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2011. 

In an apparent reaction to the military offensive carried out in the region earlier, about 60 militants attacked the Marazan check post late Tuesday night.

In the retaliatory fire, more than 20 militants were reportedly killed and nine militant hideouts were destroyed by the security forces. The deceased was identified as Major Sikandar.

“The militants were hiding in nearby mountains and opened fire on the convoy, followed by rockets,” a security official said. “Security forces retaliated and killed 20 militants. One of our majors succumbed to his wounds,” the official added.

While the area had been declared “clear” by security forces earlier, incidents of violence were regularly reported.

In a separate incident, officials confirmed a second attack from militants in the Shadala area of Ghaljo, where rockets were fired at a convoy. “The second attack happened in the same manner like the one in Kurram Agency,” a security official said.

“The militants were hiding and targeted the convoy. In retaliatory fire, four militants were killed. One of our soldiers sustained minor injuries and is out of danger now,” the officials added.

Earlier, a policeman was killed, and another one injured, when a remote-controlled explosion took place near a police check post in the Shabqadar Tehsil of Charsadda.

Police officials added that the check post was situated on a main road, linking Mohmand Agency with Charsadda and Peshawar. The funeral prayers of the slain policeman were held with senior police officials, including Peshawar city police officer in attendance.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2011.