Cross-border attack in northwest Pakistan leaves five dead

Cross-border attack in northwest Pakistan leaves five dead

2011-06-17 10:03:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

KHAR, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Afghan militants on Thursday attacked a village in Pakistan's northwest tribal area, killing five people and injuring at least eight others, Ary News television reported on Friday.

According to the report, approximately 300 militants crossed the Afghan-Pakistani border to attack the Mamoond village in Bajaur district. The cross-border attack took place about 65 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Khar, the main town in the district.

The attackers opened fire at local residents using rockets, mortars and machine guns. The tribal people returned fire and the two sides engaged in a gunfight which lasted about 30 minutes.

Five civilians were killed in the attack, including three women. The Pakistani Army and paramilitary troops were rushed to the area and forced the militants to flee the village. Soldiers reportedly killed an undisclosed number of attackers.

The attack demonstrates the poor security in the area as Afghan militants can easily move across the border despite the presence of a security checkpoint to prevent access of Taliban members and associates. This was the third attack in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area this month.

The Pakistani-Afghan border, which the United States considers to be the most dangerous place on Earth, is known to be a stronghold of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, considered one of the top terrorist organizations and threats to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-17