Eight citizens killed in Hangu blast as Pak Army eliminates 21 militants

• Airstrikes in Shawal area of NWA raze five militant hideouts, kill 15 terrorists, including foreigners
• Militants attack border checkpost in Khyber Agency, six militants killed in exchange of fire with security forces

At least eight people died and 11 others were injured in a blast at displaced persons’ camp in Tog Sarai area of Hangu while at least 21 militants were killed in airstrikes and a gunfight in the restive northwestern tribal areas, officials said Sunday.

Police sources said that the bomb explosion occurred inside Mohammad Khawaja Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp bazaar where the tribesmen from Orakzai Agency were residing. The injured were taken to DistrictHeadquartersHospital.

Hangu Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Falak Nawaz said that the explosion was caused by a remotely controlled improvised explosive device (IED).

“The explosive was planted on a motorcycle,” District Police Officer (DPO) Anwar Saeed Kundi added.

Security personnel were immediately sent to the site.

President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and various leaders of the ruling party and political parties across the country have condemned the attack.

AIR ATTACKS:

In the meanwhile, air attacks were carried out on five insurgent hideouts in Shawal area of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) overnight, a military statement said Sunday.

“In precise aerial strikes last night (five) terrorists hideouts were destroyed and 15 terrorists including foreigners, were killed in Shawal area of NWA,” the statement reportedly said.

GUNFIGHT:

Separately, at least six militants were killed early Sunday in a gunfight that erupted after they attacked a paramilitary checkpoint in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

The gunfight occurred at Ghundi Checkpoint in the District Khyber which is a gateway for NATO supplies to Afghanistan.

“A group of about 30 militants attacked Ghundi Checkpost early Sunday but security forces had prior information about it and were well-prepared,” a senior security official reportedly said.

“At least six militants were killed in the gunfight and the militants were forced to flee,” the official said, adding that there were no casualties among security forces.

The Pakistan Army launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb on June 15 following against terrorists and their strongholds in NWA.

NWA has been isolated by deploying troops along its border with neighboring agencies and FATA regions to restrict movement of terrorists in and out of the area.

More than 1,000 militants and 86 soldiers have been killed in the offensive so far, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The numbers cannot be independently verified as the area is off-limits to journalists.

Following the military offensive, nearly a million people have been displaced and are residing in various IDP camps across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.