3 soldiers killed in Khyber IED blast

BARA:

A Pakistan Army captain and two soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in a remote strategic valley of Khyber Agency, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

“The attack took place Wednesday when security forces were sweeping the Sandan area of Tirah Valley for improvised explosive devices (IEDs),” an official said, adding that Captain Farooq of Punjab Regiment embraced martyrdom, while two soldiers got wounded and later succumbed to their injuries.

The official added that an IED sweeping operation has started in the mountainous area of Tirah, while such an operation has already been completed in the plains of the valley.

According to officials, almost the entire region is now under the control of the administration after the military flushed out militants in an operation launched in mid-October last year. Some pockets of resistance remain along the Pak-Afghan border, which are being cleared.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2015.