LANDI KOTAL: A suspected militant was critically injured when his vehicle was targeted with a remote-controlled explosive device here on Friday.

Official sources said that an explosive device went off when Wali Mohammad, a resident of Khugakhel, sat in his car parked outside his residence. They said that the explosive device was fitted with his vehicle.

Wali Mohammad suffered critical injuries in the blast while the front portion of his car was completely damaged.

Doctors at the agency headquarters hospital, Landi Kotal, said that Wali Mohammad lost one of his legs and had received severe injuries on his abdomen, chest, neck and face. He was later shifted to Peshawar in critical condition. Later, the security forces took four suspects into custody.

However, sources claimed that Wali Mohammad had affiliations with Amarath Islam, a militant group operational in Afghanistan. It was also learnt that he had a land dispute with a local resident and the issue had already claimed the life of one of his brothers.

Meanwhile, security forces moved to areas in Loe Shalman along the banks of Kabul River. Sources said that the army troops moved into the region after an escalation in terrorist acts in the bordering tribal region of Mohmand Agency. They said that militants affiliated with Afghan Taliban had long established their bases in areas across the Kabul River and were allegedly planning terror attacks inside Pakistan.

The sources said that the security forces had established their posts in the area and there was a possibility of the local residents vacating houses owing to possible military operation in areas, including Sheen Pokh, Narai, Ougda, Samsai and Shalman Khula localities.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016