PARACHINAR: Four soldiers and three activists of a pro-government anti-militant group were killed in two bomb blasts in parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) on Tuesday.

A policeman, injured in a similar attack in Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, died of his wounds on Tuesday, raising the attack toll to two. Additional SHO Mohammad Farid had been killed on Monday.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Kurram Agency and Mansehra. The outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam has said its members had carried out the third attack in Khyber Agency.

In Central Kurram, four security personnel were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb planted by militants.

They were going to Parachinar, the headquarters of Kurram Agency, from Maigi area. The bomb exploded, killing the soldiers on the spot and destroying the vehicle.

Over the past two years, security forces have been engaged in a search operation in Central Kurram to flush out militants and establish government’s writ.

LANDIKOTAL: Three activists of Tawheed-ul-Islam, a pro-government group, were killed when their vehicle hit a landmine in Nari Baba near Zakhakhel Bazaar in Khyber Agency.

Salahuddin Ayoubi, spokesman for the Lashkar-i-Islam, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sources in police said several suspects had been taken into custody for interrogation.

The funeral prayers of ASHO Farid and constable Ajmal were offered in their native towns.

Mohammad Khurasani, a spokesman for the TTP, accepted responsibility for the attacks.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2015

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