At least 31 persons including 12 militants and six Pakistani soldiers were killed when militants attacked an army camp in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Islamabad, Feb 2/Nationalturk- At least 31 persons including 12 militants and 13 civilians were killed in militant attack on an army camp in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Security sources said a group of well-armed militants attacked a temporary army camp located at Lakki Marwat, Serai Naurang in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan this morning. “The militants fired rocket propelled grenades and used other heavy automatic weapons during the attack,” they said.
They said Pakistani soldiers also returned the fire and heavy exchange of fire between the two sides continued for nearly four hours. “In the ensuing fierce gunbattle, 12 militants, 6 soldiers and three civilians were killed,” they said.
They said at least eight soldiers were also injured in the militant attack and have been hospitalized.
A security official, pleading anonymity said, at least 10 civilians were also reportedly killed when one of the militants, who was wearing suicide explosive vest, blew himself up in a house near the army camp. “The dead include woman and children”.
He said Pakistani soldiers have recovered bodies of four militants, who were wearing suicide jackets. “The bomb disposal squad experts neutralized the suicide jackets,” he said.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claims responsibility
Meanwhile, according to Pakistan newspaper, The Dawn, banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan claimed responsibility for the attack.
“Four suicide bombers were involved in the attack and three of them were killed while the fourth was giving tough resistance to Pakistan army,” he said.
The TTP spokesman claimed that the attack was in retaliation for recent deaths of two Taliban commanders in US drone strikes.
TTP accuses Pakistan army of supporting America’s drone attacks.
Write your comments and thoughts below
Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News
[adrotate banner=”46″]
