Militants killed 5 soldiers in Pakistan: army

Ten of the assailants believed to have been killed.

A Pakistani security officer stands alert at the site of a Taliban suicide bombing killing scores of policemen in Ghalanai in Pakistan’s restive tribal region of Mohmand in this February 15, 2017 file photo. Five Pakistani soldiers were killed by militants in the province on Sunday, the army said, adding at least ten of the extremists were neutralised.

Five Pakistani soldiers were killed by militants in a cross-border terrorist attack on three border posts in the country’s restive north-west tribal region, the army said on Monday.

“Effective presence, vigilance and response repulsed terrorists attempt. In exchange of fire 5 soldiers were killed yesterday [Sunday],” the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Ten of the attackers were also believed to have been killed, the statement said.

“Last night terrorists from across the border attempted physical attack on three Pakistan border posts in Mohmand Agency,” it said.

“Terrorists must be denied freedom of movement along the border,” Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was quoted as saying in the statement.

Crackdown

Last month, Pakistan army launched a crackdown against terrorists after an Islamic State suicide bomber at a crowded Sufi shrine in Sindh province claimed 88 lives.

Pakistan often accuses Afghanistan-based terrorists of staging attacks in the country.

Last month, the Army has killed more than 100 suspected terrorists and also handed over to Afghanistan a list of 76 terrorists hiding across the border.

At the heart of the problem is Kabul’s continued allegations against Pakistan for providing what it called ‘safe havens’ to terrorists launching the cross border raids, The Express Tribune reported.