Security forces kill 23 militants in Pakistan’s northwest

Eurasia News

MIRANSHAH: A group of militants tried to ambush a security forces’ convoy in the restive North Waziristan tribal region late on Wednesday; the security force retaliated and killed at least 23 militants, a security official said.

The official said that the convoy was returning back from Khajuri checkpost area in Mirali Tehsil of North Waziristan where they had gone to rescue soldiers who were injured in a suicide attack yesterday, when the militants tried to ambush the convoy.

In response to the attack, the security forces retaliated with gunfire and killed 23 militants, the official said adding that the clash continued for several hours during which three security personnel were also injured.

On Wednesday, at least four soldiers were killed and 25 others injured when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a military checkpoint in the North Waziristan tribal region.

The attack occurred when the soldiers were offering prayers at a mosque of Khajuri checkpoint situated in the Mir Ali area of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region.

The Ansarul Mujahideen, a little-known militant group affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on the security checkpoint in North Waziristan, and said it was planned to avenge the death of the TTP head Hakimullah Mehsud.