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| Five die in suicide blast near Friendship Tunnel |
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Saturday, August 30, 2008
By Syed Yasir Shah & Yousaf Ali
KOHAT/PESHAWAR: Five persons were killed and 44 others, including 35 security forces personnel injured when an explosives-laden vehicle blew up after its driver was shot dead by the paramilitary Frontier Corps soldiers in restive Darra Adamkhel town on Friday.
According to official sources, the vehicle being driven by a would-be suicide bomber was on its way to hit Orakzai Scouts checkpost near Pakistan-Japan Friendship Tunnel at Darra Adamkhel.
Eyewitness and the injured tunnel employees - vehicle inspector Aftab Khan and Asif, operation flagman, told 'The News' that two elderly would-be suicide bombers driving the explosives-packed double cabin pickup (KN-4598) came from Darra Adamkhel side and tried to enter the FC post. One militant jumped from the vehicle outside the FC post, while the other struck the vehicle against the main gate of the post after breaking through the barriers.
Meanwhile, the FC troops opened fire on the pickup, which exploded with a big bang, killing the would-be bomber and three civilians. The dead included Noor Sher, Baseer Hussain, and suspected militant Haq Nawaz. A total of 35 Frontier Corps men were injured in the incident.
The military sources said that soon after the explosion, the militants from the surrounding hills started firing at the camp, resulting in the killing of two passers-by and injuries to 13 soldiers, who were shifted to Combined Military Hospital Kohat.
Local tribesmen, however, said at least five people were killed and 35 others including 20 security forces men injured. The injured FC men included Lt Col Adnan, Subedar Jawed Iqbal, Naib Subedars Nasrullah, Shahabud Din, Noorullah Jan, Syed Jan Syed, Hawaldar Nizamud Din, Lance Naeks Bismillah Jan, Asmatullah, Shah Faisal Khan, Qadir Khan, Naweed Khan, Shakirullah, Gul Marjan, Gulab Khan, Ihsanullah, Zahid Hussain, Sumbal Khan, Naeks Lal Khan, Jehangeer Khan, Qamer Gul, constables Khanzada, Ijaz, Jehanzeb, Amir Nawaz, Sahatullah, Musibullah, Sher Adam, Syedullah, Hamid Badshah, Sharif, Yousaf Khan, Hasan Akber, Rasool Khan, Shah Mehmood, junior clerks Awal Sher, Noor Badshah and Baber Ali.
The six injured civilians included Tasaduq Hussain, Kamran Ali, Kohat Tunnel employees - flagman Asif, vehicle inspector Aftab, vehicle inspector William Jhonsan, and security guard Mena Dar.
Earlier, two bridges on the main Indus Highway were blown up, disrupting traffic via the key road tunnel. The tunnel was closed for traffic and vehicles were seen moving through the old Kohat Road -- Kotal Pass -- that too was closed for general traffic later.
Meanwhile, fearing an imminent military operation, families from Mazidkhel, Sheraki and other areas near Kohat Tunnel shifted to Peshawar. The main Darra Bazaar remained closed due to a looming operation as the security forces were seen moving towards the hilltops surrounding the semi-tribal valley from the Kohat side.
The local Taliban sources claimed the suicide bid might be a reaction to the arrest of four militants, including local militant commander Ajmal by the Frontier Constabulary two days back at Spina Thana while they were on their way to Darra from Adezai village on the outskirts of Peshawar.
Soon after the incident, the military cordoned off the area and took control of Kohat Tunnel and the FC post in Darra Adamkhel. The FC troops were deployed at hilltops in Darra Adam Khel. They also took control of Kotal checkpost.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
