Terror attacks in northwestern Pakistan kill 11

ISLAMABAD (AA) – At least 11 people, including three Pakistani soldiers, were killed in two separate terror attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said.

According to the Pakistan army, three of its soldier were killed in a cross-border attack from Afghanistan in the Kurram district near the Afghan border on Tuesday.

“Terrorists from inside Afghanistan . . . opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kharlachi, Kurram district. Pakistan army troops responded in a befitting manner . . . terrorists suffered heavy casualties,” the Pakistan army’s media wing said in a statement.

Pakistan strongly condemned the use of Afghanistan’s soil by terrorists for carrying out attacks against its forces in the border areas.

Pakistan expects the Afghan government will not allow such activities in the future, said the Inter-Services Public Relations, adding the army is determined to defend Pakistan’s borders.

Attacks on Pakistan army and police have increased in border areas in recent days despite an open-ended cease-fire between the Pakistani security forces and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a combination of several militant groups operating in Pakistan.

Formally established in June 2007, the TTP has been involved in numerous attacks, including suicide bombings, inside Pakistan.

8 killed in Swat blast

Meanwhile, at least eight people, including a key member of the peace committee, were killed in a roadside bomb blast in the scenic valley of Swat late Tuesday.

“A remote-controlled bomb exploded near the vehicle of Idrees Khan, a member of the Peace Committee in Bara Bandai, and eight people, including Khan and two security personnel, were killed,” Zahid Marwat, a district police officer of Swat, said in a statement.

No militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.