Three people were killed on Tuesday in a suicide bombing in the North Waziristan tribal area, the first such attack there since the military launched a major operation against the Taliban and other terrorists, as at least 47 suspected terrorists were slain and 23 hideouts destroyed in airstrikes carried out in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency.
The suicide bomber struck in North Waziristan’s Spinwam village, detonating a car bomb when he was intercepted on the approach to a checkpoint near the Civil Hospital, officials said, killing two soldiers and a civilian.
“At least two soldiers and a civilian have embraced martyrdom,” a security official told reporters.
The deaths bring to 12 the number of security forces killed in the offensive, dubbed “Zarb-e-Azb” after a sword used in battle by the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), since its launch on June 15.
A military statement said that troops stopped the suicide bomber 100 metres (yards) away from a checkpoint near the hospital and the action averted major casualties.
The Ansar-ul-Mujahedin militant group, a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed responsibility, with spokesman Abu Baseer saying it was the start of a counter-offensive against Pakistani troops.
“It is beginning of our offensive and we will launch attacks against government and local tribesmen if they form an anti-Taliban force,” Baseer told a foreign news agency via telephone from an unknown location.
AIRSTRIKES IN NWA AND KHYBER:
Meanwhile, jet strikes in Mirali area of North Waziristan Agency killed 27 suspected militants and destroyed 11 hideouts including a huge cache of arms and ammunition. An ISPR statement also claimed that 20 militants were killed and 12 hideouts were destroyed during the air blitz in Khyber tribal region.
According to local and tribal sources, at least seven civilians, including a woman and children, died when a mortar shell hit a house in the Meraban Loki Khel area which is located in part of Tirrah Valley in the Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber Agency. The tribesmen said that the house is owned by Khan Wali Kokikhel. The ISPR is yet to issue details on the incidents.
Due to the ongoing military operation at least 430,000 people have fled the region into nearby areas of Pakistan as well as neighbouring Afghanistan, the biggest movement of refugees in Pakistan in years.
Exodus of IDPs from North Waziristan
The ISPR statement said that 454,207 displaced persons (36,514 families) from North Waziristan Agency were registered so far at Saidgai registration point.
Six ration distribution points have been established for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency which include three at Bannu, two at DI Khan and one at Tank districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The statement said detailed distribution of 4,473 tons of ration for 40,000 families will commence from Wednesday (today). Each ration bag carries 20/80 kilograms of Atta (flour) as per size of the family, cooking oil five litres, Dall (lentils) nine kgs, dates one kg, and tea one kg.
Meanwhile, according to details issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) so far 455,597 persons (36,793 families) had crossed over from North Waziristan region.
Giving a breakup of the displaced persons, the NDMA report said that the people who had fled the area included 119,915 males, 143,785 females and 191,897 children.
Out of the total IDPS, 27 families (227 Persons) have opted to stay in main DPs camp established at Baka Khel (FR Bannu) located near Baran Dam.
