Nine soldiers dead as militants attack checkpost

Dozens of militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the checkpost in Surang Baba Ziarat village.


Zulfiqar Ali/afp August 29, 2012

PESHAWAR: At least nine Pakistani soldiers were killed and four were injured in clashes after militants attacked a checkpost in the country's lawless tribal northwest on Wednesday, officials said.

Dozens of militants armed with rockets and grenades stormed the checkpost in Surang Baba Ziarat village, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan tribal district, a senior security official in Peshawar told AFP.

Nine soldiers have been confirmed killed in the clashes and four injured, the official said, adding that the toll was likely to rise. Ten militants were killed, he said.

However, some security officials claimed that 18 militants had been killed while several were injured.

The area is cut off to journalists and aid workers and it was not possible to confirm the death toll independently.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed in a telephone call that the militants had killed more than 12 soldiers and only one militant was killed, though the group often exaggerates military casualties.

COMMENTS (18)

US CENTCOM | 11 years ago | Reply

These militants are fully focused on uprooting the rule of law and wish to see our governments succumb to the pressure. These attacks are strong proof of their resistance against our efforts to bring peace and stability to the region. Like Pakistan, we have lost many brave soldiers to these acts of terror. We mourn the loss of these brave soldiers and strongly condemn these acts of terror. Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of these fallen soldiers. We fully support Pakistan in its fight against these militants, and hope to play our role in clearing the region of these acts of terror.

Capt. Joseph Kreidel DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur

Pakistani Pakhtoon | 11 years ago | Reply

i think now we should stand against the establishment who are making foreign policy, all the extremists and militants should be banned and we should clearly stand against such policies now also for afghanistan as well like in the past we created talibans to overthrow the Govt in afghanstan and put the criminals incharge . its dangerous for pak survival and also for world peace now

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