Three security officials killed in cross border attack in Bajaur Agency

Civilian and security official also sustain injuries during the attack.

KHAR: Three officials of the security forces, including a junior commission officer, were killed in a cross border attack in Bajaur Agency in the early hours of Saturday.

The attack, from Afghanistan’s Kunar province, took place in the Ghakhi pass area of Mamond tehsil.

Around two dozen militants armed with sophisticated weapons crossed from the Afghan province of Kunar to launch the pre-dawn ambush in Bajaur district, officials said.

"Militants from across the border ambushed a check post. Two security personnel and an officer embraced martyrdom in the attack," a security official in Bajaur told AFP by telephone.

"One sepoy (soldier) and a civilian were also wounded," the official added.

A senior government official said the militants were forced to flee after troops retaliated.

"It might be in retaliation for the military offensive in North Waziristan," the government official told AFP.

Political administration and security sources confirmed the attack, saying that the incident occurred at about 12:30am.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack till the filing of this report.