Heavily Armed Afghanistan Militants Attack Pakistan Village

Huge number of heavily armed militants attacked a village in Bajaur tribal region in northwest Pakistan, they had crossed the border from Afghanistan on Thursday and stormed the village, killing five civilians, Pakistani officials said.

The militants targeted this village in Bajaur district, which borders the Afghan province of Kunar, despite the presence of Pakistani security checkpoints erected to check Taliban militants.

“Some 250-300 militants targeted civilians in Mamond. At least five civilians, including two women were killed,” according to local government official Fazle Akbar.

Akbar said three women were also wounded in the attack, which took place about 65 kilometres northwest of Khar, the main town in Bajaur.

“We have sent army and paramilitary troops to the area as we got reports that militants are still present there,” according to a security official. “Some militants were also killed when troops in the area responded, but we do not know the number of casualties yet,” the official said.

On June 1 and June 3, hundreds of militants besieged an area in Pakistan’s northwestern district of Upper Dir on the Afghan border, sparking prolonged fighting that killed at least 34 people.

Earlier in the day, a bomb attack on security forces severely wounded at least two security personnel in Upper Orakzai Agency, DawnNews reported. The bomb was said to be detonated through a remote-controlled device.

The militants also destroyed several schools, government buildings and mosques in the area. Pakistan has conveyed "strong concern" to the Afghan government over the cross-border attacks. During his recent visit to Islamabad, President Hamid Karzai said Pakistan and Afghanistan need to act "aggressively and effectively" to root out terrorists and their sanctuaries from both countries.