Two personnel killed, 22 go missing as militants attack FR check posts: Official

TTP Dara Adamkhel claim responsibility for attack on the three check posts. Dispute official figures for missing men.

PESHAWAR: The unabated violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued as Taliban militants attacked three levies security posts in Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar killing at least two security personnel, while 22 of their comrades have gone missing following attacks on their check posts early on Thursday, senior administration official Naveed Akbar Khan told The Express Tribune.

The FR regions are buffer zones separating the tribal areas from the settled.

According to the official three check posts came under attack in the Hasankhel area “22 levies personnel are missing after the attack” Akbar said, while adding that the men were taken from two check posts.

A senior security official told The Express Tribune that the first attack took place two hours past midnight on December 27, when militants attacked the Jani Khawar post. At least one official was killed in an exchange of fire with the militants.

“Almost an hour later two more check posts Zarqa and Ghakhee Sar came under attack.”

“A search operation has been launched for their recovery,” he said, adding “we hope that they scattered after the attack, hiding in the nearby areas.”

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Dara Adamkhel have claimed responsibility for the attack. They further disputed the official figure, claiming there were many more soldiers than what the officials were willing to admit.

Peshawar and its surrounding have faced a brunt of attacks in the last two weeks, despite heightened security,  a continued military operation  in neighbouring Khyber Agency and redeployment of security on all unconventional routes, such attacks continue to haunt the resident of the areas.