This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-13835540
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Pakistan: Militant attack on anti-Taliban elders | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Dozens of militants have attacked the homes of two prominent anti-Taliban tribal elders close to the Afghan border, officials say. | |
At least four were killed and four others, including one of the elders, injured in the tribal area of Mohmand. | |
Meanwhile, a US drone strike killed at least three suspected militants in a vehicle in the Kurram district, further along the volatile Afghan border. | |
Analysts say militants fleeing army offensives have set roots in the area. | |
The tribal district of Kurram is an area rarely targeted by drone missiles, with some officials saying this is only the third such attack in the region. | |
Elders attacked | |
The raid on the homes of anti-Taliban elders happened in the Ziarat Masood village of Mohmand district, another area where the Taliban have been attempting to establish themselves. | |
A group of militants stormed the village and attacked the houses of Malik Ghazi Khan and Malikh Ghulab Khan, members of a local peace committee, which oppose the Taliban, a local official told the AFP news agency. | |
There have been frequent military operations in the area in an effort to combat the insurgents infiltrating the district. Establishing "peace committees", tribal groups opposed to insurgents, is a key part of the security strategy, correspondents say. | |
The attack comes just one day after Pakistani war planes bombed a militant stronghold in the region and also launched ground attacks against insurgents there. | |
Four soldiers and 20 militants were killed in the clashes, officials say, adding that Sunday's assault was a response to the latest attack by the Taliban on checkpoints in north-western Pakistan. A Taliban spokesman said 19 security personnel had been killed. | |
Cross-border incursions | |
In recent weeks there have been a number of cross-border attacks in the north-west. Pakistan has lodged official protests with Afghanistan over cross-border incursions by Taliban militants. | |
Last week more than 200 militants, armed with mortars, rockets and machine guns, stormed a Pakistani village in Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border, wounding at least two women. | Last week more than 200 militants, armed with mortars, rockets and machine guns, stormed a Pakistani village in Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border, wounding at least two women. |
A similar attack earlier this month in Pakistan's Upper Dir area led to a prolonged clash and left at least 25 Pakistani troops dead. | A similar attack earlier this month in Pakistan's Upper Dir area led to a prolonged clash and left at least 25 Pakistani troops dead. |
Securing the long, porous border that divides Pakistan and Afghanistan has been a major challenge for the two countries as they try to battle insurgents, correspondents say. | Securing the long, porous border that divides Pakistan and Afghanistan has been a major challenge for the two countries as they try to battle insurgents, correspondents say. |
Many of the various militant groups along the frontier are closely linked. |