2 killed, 20 injured in roadside bomb blast in northwest Pakistan

Two persons were killed and nearly 20 others injured when a bus was targeted with a roadside bomb in the restive Kurram tribal region of northwest Pakistan today, security officials said.

The incident occurred in Pir Qayyum area of the tribal district.

The bus was going from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa capital Peshawar to Parachinar, the main town of Kurram Agency.

Two persons were killed instantly and 17 injured persons were taken to a hospital in Parachinar, security officials told TV news channels.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in sectarian violence between rival Shia and Sunni tribesmen in Kurram Agency over the past four years.

No group claimed responsibility for today's attack.

from deccanherald
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from DAWN:

SADDA: Two people were killed and 17 others wounded when a homemade bomb exploded next to a bus on the outskirts of the town of Sadda in the northwestern Kurram tribal region, near the Afghanistan border, local government officials said.

The Pakistani military has been conducting offensives against militant hideouts in Kurram, and dozens have been killed in intense fighting since the start of the year.

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1 soldier killed, 12 injured in NW Pakistan blast

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ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least one soldier was killed and 12 others were injured in a blast that hit a police vehicle in northwest tribal region of Kurram on Sunday, local media reported.

The incident took place at about 2:00 p.m. (local time) when a vehicle of paramilitary forces was targeted by a road-side bomb in Shaheedan Dand area of lower Kurram area near Pak-Afghan border, local Urdu TV channel Aaj reported.

An army vehicle with more than 15 paramilitary troops on board was attacked by a remote-controlled device during its routine patrolling. Militants then opened fires on the troops, killing one soldier on the spot and injuring 12 others, the report said.

The injured soldiers were sent to the military hospital in Lower Kurram and hospital sources said some of the injured are in critical conditions.

In retaliatory attack, forces killed 10 militants and injured several others.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Kurram Agency is the most volatile area at Pak-Afghan border where Pakistan army has been battling Taliban militants since last August.

Security forces said to have cleared some of the areas in lower Kurram agency from insurgents, but Pakistan Taliban spokesperson Ahsan ullah Ahsan told media earlier this week that most of the areas in lower Kurram are still under the control of militants and they would continue attacking security forces in the future.

The clashes between militants and security forces escalated since the beginning of this year. Earlier on Friday, seven soldiers were killed and several others injured in a check-post attack by militants in the same lower Kurram area.

On Tuesday, 10 soldiers were killed and 32 others injured in a check post attack by militants in Kurram Agency.

During operations by security forces over the past five weeks, over 150 militants and 26 soldiers were killed while 67 soldiers injured in clashes with the militants in Kurram agency.

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Militants ambush kills 7 troops in NW Pakistan

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Seven Pakistani army soldiers have been killed and three others wounded following an ambush by pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, Press TV reports.


Clashes broke out in the early hours of Friday when a group of 50 militants attacked a security checkpoint in Shidano Dand post in the remote mountainous Kurram region, killing seven government soldiers and wounding three others.

The militants later took six troops hostage at gunpoint, and fled the scene along with them.

Security forces launched a counter attack in the aftermath of the assault, engaging in an hours-long fierce gun battle after which government soldier took full control of the area.

During the shootout, 18 militants lost their lives and 14 others sustained injuries.

The injured government soldiers were transferred to a local hospital to receive medical treatment.

Kurram is considered a main base for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Scores of high-profile militants are believed to be taking refuge there in recent years after fleeing military offensives in the nearby tribal regions.

Despite the Pakistani government's operations against TTP militants and associated groups, they have still been able to spread their influence in various regions of the country and have killed thousands of people.

Over 35,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US on the so-called war against terrorism, according to local media.

Thousands more have been displaced by the wave of violence and militancy sweeping across the country.

from PressTV

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• Militants kill Pakistani soldiers (bbc.co.uk)
• Seven soldiers, 18 militants killed in Pak clashes (thehindu.com)
• 18 militants killed, 7 soldiers martyred and five kidnapped in Kurram Agency (nation.com.pk)

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20 militants killed in clashes in NW Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 militants were killed and 22 soldiers injured in clashes between militants and security forces in Kurram tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Thursday, local media reported.

The clashes broke out in wee hours when militants attacked security forces in Jogi area of Kurram agency, a militancy-hit tribal area at Pak-Afghan border where Pakistani soldiers are battling Taliban militants, local Urdu TV channel ARY reported.

During the shootout, 20 militants were killed and 37 others sustained injuries. Forces also destroyed two militants' hideouts.

At least 22 soldiers of Pakistan Army were reportedly injured during the clashes.

Both sides used heavy weapons including rockets and mortars in the clashes.

Pakistan army has cleared most of the Taliban militants from the Kurram region. Some of the areas, however, are still under the control of militants from where they carry out attacks on Pakistan army and pro-government tribal people. The forces have been conducting major operation against the militants in Kurram and the nearby Orakzai region over the past few months, they are making progress in areas where militants are still active.

During the last three days, 27 militants and six soldiers were killed while 23 soldiers sustained injuries in clashes between militants and soldiers in Kurram Agency.

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9 killed in clashes in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants and two soldiers of the Pakistan Army got killed while several others injured in clashes between militants and security forces in Kurram tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Tuesday evening, local media reported.

According to the report by local Urdu TV Dunya, the clashes broke out when militants attacked Pakistani soldiers in Jogi area of Kurram agency, a main area at Pak-Afghan border lands, killing two soldiers and injuring two others.

In the retaliatory attack by the Pakistan Army, seven militants got killed and ten others sustained injuries.

Both sides used heavy weapons including rockets and mortars in the clashes.

The Pakistan Army has cleared most of the Kurram region from the Taliban militants, however, some of the areas are still under the control of militants from where they carry out attacks on the Pakistan Army and pro-government tribal people.

The forces have been conducting major operation against the militants in Kurram and the nearby Orakzai region over the past few months, and they are making progress in areas where militants are still active.

Read More