GHALANAI, Jan 14: Seven security personnel were killed and over a dozen were missing when a military convoy was ambushed by the local Taliban in the Mohmand Agency on Monday. Six militants were reportedly killed when the troops fired back.

According to the ISPR and local people, the convoy was going to Ghalanai military headquarters from the Muhammad Gut army camp. It came under attack in Qayyumabad, near Kandharu, at 7.30am. Seven troops were killed and two vehicles hit by a rocket shell were completely damaged, they said.

The troops returned fire, killing six Taliban. Gunship helicopters and artillery pounded militants’ positions and an exchange of fire continued till noon.

A house and a coach were destroyed in the shelling. There was no report of any casualty.

There are conflicting reports about the casualties suffered by the Taliban. The ISPR put the number of Taliban killed at 23, while militants claimed that only three of their men had been killed. According to local people, six Taliban were killed.

Taliban spokesman Mullah Omar claimed responsibility for the attack and said that 17 soldiers had been taken hostage.

“Our activities will continue till an end to the military operation in Swat and release of Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz,” he added.

In another incident, militants fired 12 rockets on the Monrah security camp in the Dattakhel tehsil of North Waziristan on Monday morning. However, no loss of life or property was reported till filing of the report.