Dozens of militants attacked a paramilitary checkpoint overnight, sparking clashes that left at least three soldiers and up to 14 militants dead, officials said on Monday. The attack in Mohmand Agency was beaten off when troops responded with artillery and heavy weapons, according to a spokesman for the Frontier Corps (FC). “Militants attacked a Frontier Corps checkpost in Baizai area of Mohmand Agency on Sunday night, which triggered a firefight, killing three troops and 14 rebels,” local official Siddiqullah said. Five troops were also injured and the militants had infiltrated Pakistan from Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar province, he said.
The identity of the militants was not clear, but Afghan and Pakistani Taliban sympathisers have strongholds on both sides of the porous border. The FC spokesman confirmed the incident and casualties and said the militants had attacked the post from three different directions. Meanwhile, a man was killed and another 13 injured in a blast in Kurram Agency on Monday, officials said. According to officials, a bomb exploded near a taxi stand, also damaging many vehicles. Security forces rushed to the scene to cordon off the area and conduct a search operation. The officials said it could be a remote-controlled bomb blast. No one has claimed the responsibility for the attack.
