MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN: A roadside bomb targeting a military convoy Wednesday killed two Pakistani soldiers and wounded 14 others in the country's lawless tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said.
The bomb was planted along the route of a convoy of the paramilitary Frontier Corps in Spinwam area about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region, they said.
North Waziristan has become the most notorious Taliban and al Qaeda stronghold on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. Islamabad has resisted US pressure to launch a full-scale offensive against insurgents in the area.
"It was a remote controlled device and the target was a military convoy," a security official in Miranshah said.
One vehicle in the 20-truck convoy was hit in the blast, which killed one soldier on the spot, while another later succumbed to injuries in hospital, he said.
There are 14 other injured soldiers receiving treatment in the hospital, some in a serious condition, he added.
Troops responded by launching a house-to-house search for militants while military helicopters shelled suspected hideouts, another official in the northwestern city of Peshawar said, confirming the casualties.
"We don't have details of militant losses," he said.
North Waziristan is one of seven districts in Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal belt, where Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds used to plot attacks across the border in Afghanistan.
Attacks on the military are rare in the region as an influential local militant commander, Gul Bahadur, agreed not to attack Pakistani troops under a ceasefire accord signed with the authorities in 2007.
Pakistan has lost more than 3,000 soldiers in the fight against homegrown insurgents but has resisted US pressure to eliminate havens used by those fighting international troops in Afghanistan.
COMMENTS (10)
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first of all we have to make sure who did it?its a border area and many groups operate there few from otharside of border and seems like attack is trying to provoke the army which i think they will not keep head cool . @centcom pay attention othar side of border ur fortune wont be change even after this operation 12 year u gys acheive nothing next 12 u wont either and hope u wont leave in dark nite like u pulled surge troops .its political issue and will solve poiliticaly not with guns mark my words today.
@numbersnumbers:
Bomb is bomb at the end of the day and I bet you know how precise Hellfire missiles are but I reckon you read the following article on Guardian too, the guys must have done some research.
Drone attacks in Pakistan are counterproductive, says report US academics' report says drones kill large numbers of civilians and increase recruitment by militant groups
About Paki Jets dropping bombs and turning human bodies into smithereens; would be tantamount to genocide as well.
It was a news that caught my attention lately which said that Pakistani Armed Forces has put this idea on the table in a meeting with US officials to let them take militants down by their own fighter jets rather than American drones. I thought it was extremely barbaric and insane to suggests another country about how to hunt some humans down on your own soil.
P.S by the way the advice was turned down without any heeding by US
First and foremost, our condolences go out to the friends and families of those killed in this act of terror. We also wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured. Unfortunately, this is not the first time our forces have been targeted by the terrorists. The terrorists see this as a way to spread fear and chaos throughout the region. We reiterate what George E. Little, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, said recently: “We believe that the Pakistani government shares our view that terrorists threaten both countries, both Pakistan and the United States. Scores of Pakistanis have regrettably been killed by terrorists inside Pakistan. We, of course, have suffered losses as well, inside Pakistan and elsewhere, from al-Qaeda and from other terrorist groups operating along the Afghan-Pakistan border. So we have common cause with the Pakistanis. We're working closely with the Pakistanis on the counterterrorism issue, and we will continue to do so.”
@Kashif Dada: Drone strikes use precision guided Hellfire missiles. PAF jets drop conventional bombs from high speed target runs. Guess which one creates more civilian casualties?
What about bombs that are dropped either by US drone or Pak Army choppers and tanks day in day out on innocent people on the pretext of War Against Terrorism? Why no one seems to care about our army holding talks with perpetrators on how to bring the collateral damage down, how about fighter jets do the job instead of unmanned drones, how much for each fugitive likes Afia Siddiqui. Why not stop these atrocities on Pashtoons at the first place and give justice to thousands of bereaved families. Why we always take pride in condemning the the REACTIONS and turn blind eye on ILLEGAL, BARBARIC, GENOCIDAL actions.
Looks like the operation in North Waziristan has started or about to start:
"One vehicle in the 20-truck convoy was hit in the blast" 20 Truck convey is a formidable force, (may be not against TTP), but it's a start.
Condolences to family and friends of innocent soldiers and victims of senseless violence. ..pc
And as usual, there is no statement condemning this incident by any religious group, PTI and Bounty Balour.
Only us Indians are bothered by this senseless killing of soldiers who are just doing their job.
North Waziristan is peaceful and the Haqqanis are just innocent freedom fighters. Why dont people understand! Give peace a chance! When Amreeka leaves, these people will stop planting bombs!
Imran Khan will make his Taliban friends lay down their weapons within nine hours.