Attacks by Afghanistan-based militants in Mohmand, Bajaur repulsed

GHALLANAI/ KHAR: The security forces on Friday repulsed two cross-border attacks on two checkposts near the border with Afghanistan in the Mohmand and Bajaur tribal agencies, official sources said.

The sources said the attackers failed to cause any human and material losses. They said the Afghanistan-based militants attacked the security checkpost in Sheikh Baba area in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency early in the day.

They said the personnel of the security forces returned the fire and forced the militants to retreat. The militants based in Kunar province of Afghanistan also staged an attack on the checkpost of the security forces in Nawa Pass in Bajaur Agency.

“The militants attacked the checkpost early morning. The security forces repulsed the attack forcing the militants to return to Afghanistan side of the border,” said an official. The militants escaped the Pakistani military operations in Mohmand and Bajaur agencies and also later in Swat and rest of Malakand division in 2009 and secured refuge in Afghanistan’s Nuristan and Kunar provinces. They have been staging cross-border attacks in Pakistani territory and also sending suicide bombers to Pakistan.