One soldier was killed and six others were injured when an army convoy hit a remote-controlled explosive device in North Waziristan Agency, witnesses said. Military spokesman Major Gen Shaukat Sultan, however, denied that a soldier had been killed, saying only three soldiers were injured when their vehicle hit an impoverished explosive device. Sources told Daily Times that Corporal Farman died instantly. They said the injured soldiers were flown to Bannu for medical treatment. The incident took place in Pash Ziarat near Shawal in North Waziristan at 11:00am. The military convoy was heading for Razmak from Gharbaz, sources said. The injured soldiers were identified as Ahmed Jan, Alif Gul, Tahir, Asghar, Gul Shah Khan and Rab Nawaz. Laddah Deputy Administrator Naveed Arshad called a tribal jirga today (Sunday) to discuss the incident and persuade tribal elders to support the army against militants. Tribal elders have failed to resolve their differences over the role of the 36-member advisory committee supervising the lashkar. A tribal elder told Daily Times on the phone that the jirga was divided over whether to support the committee or not.
Meanwhile, a senior Frontier Corps official warned tribesmen not to launch rocket attacks on the Wana camp. "My force will target those who attack the camp," a tribesman quoted Inspector General of the Frontier Corps Maj Gen Hamid Khan as saying. |