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| India-Pakistan |
| Six killed, 10 injured in Khyber Agency |
| 2009-11-24 |
| [Dawn] At least six Pakistani civilians were killed Monday in clashes between troops and militants as soldiers went on an offensive against Taliban lairs in a tribal district, officials said. Mortar bombs smashed into private homes, killing the civilians in Landi Kotal town in Khyber, part of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border where US officials say Al-Qaida leaders are plotting attacks on the West. 'Troops repulsed an attack by a group of 50 militants at a joint checkpost of army and Frontier Corps (FC) in Landi Kotal,' a top local administration official, Shafeerullah Khan, told AFP. He said at least six civilians living near the checkpost were killed after mortar bombs hit their houses. A security official in the area confirmed the incident and said militants fled after troops retaliated. It was not clear who fired the mortars. Officials said FC troops backed by attack helicopters went on the offensive against Taliban lairs in the neighbouring tribal district of Orakzai and nearby Hangu, killing at least 12 militants. A senior security official said paramilitary troops entered Shahukhel area in Orkazai on Monday to hunt down rebels. The operation was ordered in the light of intelligence reports linking militants in the area to recent attacks in the northwestern city of Peshawar. |
| Posted by:Fred |