QUETTA: Two suspected militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan were killed in a clash which followed the killing of a Frontier Corps (FC) soldier in an attack on a checkpost on the Afghan border on Monday.

According to official sources, the militants had kidnapped six people, including a tribal elder and some officials, from Sanjavi area in Loralai district on Jan 28 when they were returning home from another elder’s house.

FC personnel recovered the kidnapped men from Qila Saifullah on Saturday after an exchange of fire.

Militants attacked the checkpost in retaliation and in the ensuing exchange of fire which continued for several hours, the two assailants were killed. An FC spokesman said that two SMGs, four grenades, pistols and other weapons had been seized.

Four days ago, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car near the gate of Zhob Cantonment when security personnel tried to stop him.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2016