BAJAUR AGENCY - Six terrorists were killed and five soldiers sustained injuries when security forces successfully repulsed cross-border attacks on Pakistani border posts and fencing parties in Bajaur Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Qamar Din Qarez Balochistan on Sunday.
The wounded soldiers included four from Frontier Constabulary (FC) and one from Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed at observation post in Balochistan border areas. The officials said that a group of suspected terrorists from across Afghanistan opened fire on Pakistani soldiers in the border area of Mamond tehsil. They said two security personnel identified as Shahid Sultan and Fazal were injured in the attack who were later shifted to Khar for treatment.
The security forces deployed in the area retaliated and killed several terrorists.
“A group of terrorists from across the border have attacked our personnel in the border locality of Mamond tehil, however; our brave soldiers have successfully repulsed it,” the officials said, adding that several terrorists were killed and wounded in the action.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the suspected militants from across the border opened fire on fencing party in the region bordering area with automatic weapons. The ISPR added that the Pakistan Army troops immediately reached the spot and engaged the attackers.
Security personnel have foiled seven infiltration attempts in the Bajaur area alone during the last 24 hours, it added.
The ISPR also claimed that several terrorists were killed and wounded in encounter with security forces.
Scores of attacks on Bajaur from across the border areas had been witnessed in the past; however; the recent attack took place after a gap of several weeks.
Fencing of hundreds of kilometers-long border areas is underway in Bajaur to secure the border areas.
According to ISPR, the terrorists taking advantage of ungoverned spaces and facilitation inside Afghanistan are resorting to such attacks to prevent fencing and construction of border posts.
However, the security forces responded effectively and repulsed physical attack. To consolidate the gains of successful kinetic operations against terrorism, fencing of Pak-Afghan border and construction of border forts will continue irrespective of the challenges posed by inimical forces.
The attacks targeted soldiers working to erect a fence along the length of Pakistan's 2400-kilometre border with Afghanistan, across which Pakistan alleges militants sneak into the country from its western neighbour.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of allowing militants hiding across the border to launch attacks on Pakistani military targets. Several militant groups are active in Balochistan, including the Taliban and local affiliates of the Islamic State group.
The Taliban and other militant groups are also active in Bajaur, which has witnessed a spate of roadside bombings and other insurgent attacks in recent years.