GHALANAI, March 3: Five ‘militants’ were killed in a clash with security forces at the Nakai checkpost in the Mohmand tribal region on Monday.

An official said that security forces had stopped a car at the checkpost, about 12 km north of Ghalanai, and told its five occupants that they needed to be frisked, but the latter refused.

He said that some tribal elders headed by Malik Rehman, the father of MNA-elect Bilal Zaman, went to the place and tried to resolve the issue.

Their efforts failed and the militants tried to escape. The security personnel fired a rocket on the car, killing the five.

Witnesses said that the local people were not allowed to collect the bodies.

The incident has sparked tension in the area bordering Afghanistan. The political administration has beefed up security and the main road between Mohmand and Bajaur has been closed.