ISLAMABAD:
Seventeen groups of militants retreated to their bases in Afghanistan after carrying out a ‘successful’ attack on border security forces in Bajaur Agency, a senior Pakistani Taliban leader told The Express Tribune.
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, who led Taliban fighters in deadly clashes in the region in 2008-09, gave his own version of the attacks that took place in the agency this week on a number of Pakistani posts. “Our fighters have now withdrawn to their bases,” the former deputy chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) told The Express Tribune by phone from Afghanistan.
“We have held one soldier hostage,” the TTP leader said. He also said that around 20 vehicles had been destroyed, along with several houses belonging to peace laskhar volunteers.
On Thursday, military sources said that the militants had crossed the border into Bajaur’s Kitkot village late Wednesday night and had been encircled by Pakistani security forces.
Assistant Political Agent Jehangir Azam put the death count of militants at 17 while talking to the media.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Peshawar corps commander visited Bajaur. Four militants were buried—three Afghans and one local. A local source said the peace militia that came under attack is still not in a position to talk to the media.Mahmound Administrative Official Faromosh Khan said that about 120 to 150 militants attacked the border.
addidional reporting by Mureeb mohmand in khar
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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ninja the question most people want to know is, why our army not reaching these beast when some element in our media can reach them take their interview and we watching them on television channels openly waving arms in streets.why?
@Ninja: Moreover, the Army is now only good for political wheeling-dealing or ransacking the Presidency/PM House; so lets all go to defend the borders.
@Ninja: Saleem does not get plots in DHA. Defending the nation is not an ordinary citizen's job.
@Saleem, how about we withdraw this incompetent army and send you to take care of the border?
Where is Pakistani army? Why it is not stopping this cross border incursions? Why all the newly promoted Generals are not sent to the border to take care of these incursions by Talibans/ Afghanistan?
Why can't the Govt allow media? Why does it hide facts? The truth is always hidden somewhere.
Why is the US and ANA not doing enough to stop cross-border attacks and prevent terrorist safe-heavens?
If we use there logic, CIA, Afghan Intelligence and TTP must be collaborating and they're playing a double game with us.
(See what I did thar! :P)
Enough of the "fog of war". Pakistan wants to know the truth. In the last 65 years we have only heard fiction. Time to come clean for the nation's sake.