Cross-border ambush: Six militants, one soldier killed in check post attack

TTP claims responsibility, cites higher number of casualties.

GHALLANI: Six suspected militants were killed and several sustained injuries in a firefight triggered by a cross-border attack on Gosal check post in Mohmand Agency. One army Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) died and another was injured in the raid. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which claimed responsibility for the attack, maintained that 17 security personnel were killed while only three of their own were killed in the attack.

A political administration official told The Express Tribune that on Thursday night around 11:30pm, militants crossed over from Afghanistan and attacked the Gosal check post with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

Troops retaliated and killed six militants. The body of one suspected militant was taken into custody by a local peace committee and brought to Ghallanai for identification. Forces also retrieved weapons of those militants who were killed or fled the scene.

JCO Umar Daraz was killed in the attack while another member of the same army unit was injured. The officer and his injured subordinate were shifted to Peshawar.

TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, calling  Mohamand-based journalists from an undisclosed location, said that the TTP had attacked the Baizai sub division from three sides, and claimed a higher death toll of security forces, while confirming that three militants were killed in the raid.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2012.