Two martyred in attack on post by militants from Afghan side

Another soldier martyred as bombers attack FC centre in Shabqadar; eight militants killed in retaliatory action; five terrorists killed in DG Khan operation

CHARSADDA/LANDIKOTAL: Three security personnel were martyred and eight others sustained injuries in two separate attacks in the Landikotal tehsil in Khyber Agency and Charsadda district, officials said on Friday.

In Landikotal, two security personnel were martyred and four others were injured when militants based in Afghanistan attacked a Pakistani border security post in the Speena Soka area. The two slain Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were identified as Naib Subedar Seda Jan and Lance Naik Jehanzeb, while the injured sepoys were identified as Ziaullah, Aziz and Jan Alam while the name of their fourth colleague couldn’t be ascertained.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that militants based across the border in Afghanistan attacked the Pakistani security checkpost. It said that six militants were killed in the ensuing gunbattle.

The injured personnel were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Peshawar for treatment. The fighting continued for several hours.The ISPR said that Pakistan Army used heavy artillery and targeted the positions of the militants in Speena Soka hills afterwards. The political administration in Landikotal directed the Khassadars and Levies personnel manning the checkpoints near the border post to stay alert.

Meanwhile, District Police Officer (DPO), Charsadda, Sohail Khalid, said that two suicide bombers tried to enter the training centre of the FC from its rear side in the Ayesha Kor area near the boundary of Mohmand Agency and Charsadda in the morning.

He said the security of the training centre had been beefed up in the wake of threats. He said the FC men and the police quickly responded to the attack and killed two suicide bombers. He said that an FC soldier was martyred and four others were injured in the exchange of fire with the attackers.

DPO Sohail Khalid said the security forces personnel rushed to the spot after the attack and cordoned off the area. He identified the slain FC soldier as Naeemullah and the injured men as Mohammad Ibrahim, Wali Shah, Shamsul Hadi and Shahid Ali. He said they were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar for treatment.

It was learnt that 150 to 200 FC men normally are under training at the centre and its security had been tightened in view of threats.The funeral prayer for the slain soldier was offered at the FC Headquarters in Peshawar.

Talking to reporters after the funeral, Commandant FC Liaqat Ali Khan said the soldiers were alert and were thus able to foil the designs of the enemy. “The bombers tried to enter the training camp disguised as trainee soldiers. However, the soldiers on duty pre-empted their move and engaged them,” he maintained.

Agencies add: Five suspected Afghan nationals were arrested during the security forces operation in different areas of Balochistan on Friday.

According to the ISPR, the FC and intelligence agencies took part in different operations in Quetta and Muslim Bagh. The forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the Serghra area of Muslim Bagh. The arrested persons are being investigated.

Meanwhile, five terrorists were killed and seven arrested in a joint operation of security forces in the tribal areas of Dera Ghazi Khan on Friday. Director General Pakistan Rangers Punjab Major General Azhar Naveed Hayat Khan personally supervised the operation.

A huge cache of weapons and ammunition buried in various compounds was also recovered during the operation.

Addressing the forces on this occasion, Azhar Naveed appreciated their efforts and directed to further intensify the pace of the ongoing operations.