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| March 18, 2006 | Saturday | Safar 17, 1427 |
Two soldiers injured in attack on forts
MIRAMSHAH, March 17: Two paramilitary personnel were injured on Thursday night when two forts came under rocket attack in the Mirali subdivision, sources said here.
More than two dozen rockets were fired on the forts in Speenwam and Shawa in the Mirali sub-division, causing injuries to two soldiers. The injured men were identified as Mohammad Shoaib Afridi and Alikhel Afridi.
They were taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Thall in Hangu district.
Security forces launched a counter-attack with artillery and helicopter gunships, but the attackers managed to escape.
The political administration, meanwhile, again asked Afghan refugees to leave the troubled agency immediately.
Announcements were made on loudspeakers in Miramshah and other areas, calling upon the refugees to leave the area or risk punitive action.
The political authorities have also imposed a ban on carrying weapons in Miramshah bazaar. The display of weapons is banned in the regional headquarters of the North Waziristan Agency.
The tribesmen were also asked to remove cordless telephone antenna and disrupt communication among militants.
PAKISTAN DAY: The army has sent foodstuff, sports goods and otheritems to various parts of the North and South Waziristan Agencies as part of the forthcoming Pakistan Day celebrations.
A convoy of six trucks loaded with flour, sugar, ghee, pulses, sweets and sports goods left for the North and South Waziristan Agencies, according to an ISPR press release issued in Peshawar on Friday.
The food items will be distributed among deserving families in the two tribal agencies.
AP ADDS: Schools and shops reopened in Miramshah on Friday as authorities relaxed a curfew imposed after clashes between pro-Taliban militants and security forces killed more than 100 fighters, officials and residents said.
Shopkeepers closed their businesses and thousands of residents fled Miramshah when troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked militant hideouts two weeks ago.
The fighting was the bloodiest in the region in two years and prompted authorities to impose a 24-hour curfew.
On Friday, political agent Syed Zaheerul Islam said that normalcy had returned to Miramshah and that the curfew had been lifted between 8am and 6pm.
Students were seen going to schools and many people were busy shopping for essentials.
Standing at the town’s main bus station, Jamilur Rahman, a 19-year-old student, said he was happy that the fighting had ended and that his parents had allowed him to go back to his college.
“I missed my classes for two weeks, but I am happy that I will be among my friends today,” he said.
Military officials say violence in North and adjoining South Waziristan is being stoked by hundreds of Arab, Central Asian and Afghan militants suspected of links with Al Qaeda who have been fighting alongside local tribesmen.
Mr Islam said efforts were under way to evict foreigners from the region.
The intelligence official said security forces had arrested over three dozen foreigners, mostly Afghans, in the past week in Miramshah.
Now that the curfew has been partially lifted in the town, general store owner Abdullah Jan said his business was again bustling.
“We request everybody to avoid fighting,” he said.
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