Twin blasts in Bajaur Agency kill two soldiers

RAWALPINDI: Twin blasts caused by roadside bombs killed two soldiers of Pakistan Army in Bajaur Agency on Saturday, Geo News reported.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), two soldiers lost their lives when improvised explosive devices fixed at two different locations went off with a blast in Bajaur Agency.

Terrorists had planted one of the bombs near a Pakistani check post at Pakistan-Afghanistan border area while the other was fixed in Kamrang area of Bara.

The security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Seven soldiers martyred in Bajaur Agency attack

BAJAUR: At least seven security personnel were martyred and seven others injured in cross border attacks on Pakistani security check posts on Thursday, Geo News reported.

According to military sources, two soldiers were martyred in cross-border firing by terrorists at Mano Zangal and Makha Top check posts at the Pak-Afghan border. Four other security men including an officer were also injured in the firing.

Later in the afternoon, the terrorists attacked the check post at Makha Top again that killed two more soldiers. Four security personnel were also injured when a blast occurred in the evening.

In the retaliatory action by the military, several terrorists were killed.

The military sources further told that the recent attack is the third incident of cross border assault since May 25.

Six security personnel killed in Mohmand Agency IED blast

MOHMAND AGENCY: Six security personnel lost their lives when a roadside bomb targeted their vehicle in Mohmand Agency area on Saturday morning, Geo News reported.

Sources close to security forces told that the explosion occurred when a convoy of security men was passing through Tehsil Pindiali today morning and hit an improvised explosive device (IED) along the road.

As a result of the roadside bomb blast, four security men were killed while two others were injured who were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment where they could not survive and succumbed to their wounds.

Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area after the incident and initiated a search operation.

23 killed as jets pound militant hideouts in Khyber Agency

PESHAWAR: Pakistani fighter jets pounded suspected militant hideouts in Khyber Agency near the Afghan border on Thursday killing twenty-three extremists and injuring several others, Geo News reported on Thursday.

The operation comes despite efforts by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government to engage the Taliban in talks to end years of fighting with an insurgency seeking to topple the democratically elected government in the capital Islamabad.

"Terrorist hideouts were engaged by fighter jets in Khyber agency early (in the) morning today," the army's press wing said in a text message sent to media.

Nine militants’ compounds were also destroyed during bombing by the fighter jets.

It said it was a response to a number of recent attacks against police and civilians in Islamabad and Peshawar.

A senior military official in Peshawar said the operation, which started early on Thursday, was still under way.

"After the jets, Pakistan army ground forces also launched operations in the area," he said.

Last week the Pakistani Taliban - a loose alliance of militant groups separate from but allied to the Afghan Taliban - formally ended a 40-day ceasefire but attempts to resume talks have continued nonetheless.

Representatives of both sides met in Islamabad on Wednesday, agreeing to pave the way for the next round of negotiations aimed at finding a compromise that would convince the Taliban to lay down their weapons.