Dozens killed after clashes in Pakistan, near Afghan border

Dozens killed after clashes in Pakistan, near Afghan border

2010-12-25 06:59:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least 35 people were killed on Friday and 22 others injured when Taliban militants attacked five security checkpoints near the Afghan border, Geo News television reported.

Approximately 150 Taliban militants attacked five Frontier Corps (FC) checkpoints in the Mohmand district, but they were forced to flee when the FC repulsed the attack. A total of 35 people were killed, including 11 Pakistani soldiers.

Due to the intensity of the attack, the Pakistani army sent helicopters and bombed suspected hideouts of the Taliban, according to Amjad Ali Khan, administrator of the lawless Mohamand district. He added that 12 soldiers were injured as well as 10 Taliban militants.

The area was cordoned off after the clashes and paramilitary forces searched the zone for the fleeing militants. In addition, reinforcements were deployed to the area to secure the zone and prevent further attacks.

The Taliban attack took FC soldiers by surprise but an effective counter attack discouraged the insurgents and fled, officials said. Security forces managed to recover the bodies of seven militants.

Also on Friday, an explosion at a school in Palosi, near Peshawar, left three students and a teacher injured. And in Quetta, an inspector was killed and three police officers were wounded after a bomb attack. The remote-controlled explosive device was planted in a bicycle and a vehicle of the Anti-Terrorist Force was destroyed.

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