PESHAWAR: An army major and five suspected militants were killed in a clash in Shawal area of North Waziristan tribal region on Sunday night, officials said.

An official identified the officer as Maj Ismail and said the gunbattle took place near the Afghan border at 11pm.

Family sources said Maj Ismail had been hit by a bullet in the head which proved fatal. Hailing from Peshawar, he has left his wife and a minor daughter to mourn his death.

Funeral prayer for the officer was held in Peshawar which was attended by people from all walks of life.

Army officials said the final phase of Operation Zarb-i-Azb launched in June last year was under way in Shawal area.

AFP quoted an official as saying that militants fired rockets on a checkpost before the fighting erupted. The militants had come from across the border in Afghanistan, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2015

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