Two security personnel martyred in Afghan cross-border attack

• Pakistan Army says officials were reviewing fencing arrangements when attacked
• Tribal sources say scores of armed tribesmen assembled at border to support forces

PESHAWAR: At least two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel deployed on the Pak-Afghan border were martyred and five others injured in an attack from across the border, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement on Sunday.

According to tribal sources in Kurram Agency, the attack happened at Lakka Teega area of Lower Kurram Agency, which connects Kurram and North Waziristan agencies of the tribal belt with Khost province of Afghanistan.

The ISPR statement further said that the officials were reviewing fencing arrangements on the border when the incident occurred.

However, the security forces timely responded, the military’s media wing stated. There were no reports regarding losses inflicted to the alleged terrorists.

The tribal sources said that alleged attack occurred early Sunday. Soon after the attack, announcements were made through mosques’ loudspeakers in various villages, situated along the Pak-Afghan border.

In response to the announcements, scores of armed tribesmen from Bangash and other tribes started assembling to support the security personnel, they added.

In earlier reports, the security forces confirmed injuries to three personnel but later the ISPR informed that two personnel were martyred and three injured.

On Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal had stated that terrorist groups (based in Afghanistan) regularly undertake cross-border raids on our posts.

The spokesman had said further that two Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in cross-border attacks on April 7 and 8, besides injuries to several others.

The army is in the process of fencing the porous Pak-Afghan border in a bid to stem the free-flow of militants.

Kabul, meanwhile, has denounced the fence, which threatens to upset the daily lives of communities who have traditionally paid little mind to the border.

Afghanistan has refused to recognise the Durand Line — a 2,400-kilometre frontier drawn by the British in 1896 — as it splits the Pashtun ethnic group between the nations.