Fleeing fighters to be recaptured

Published December 20, 2001

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: Additional troops of Pakistan army have been deployed to recapture the non-Afghan fighters who fled from the captivity of the law enforcing agencies when being escorted from Parachinar to Kohat on Wednesday, said Press Secretary to the President and Director General, ISPR, Major General Rashid Qureshi.

Talking to newsmen, he said additional troops had been deployed to recapture these non-Afghan fighters in the Parachinar area.

In an operation last night, the Pakistani forces had taken into custody over 100 non-Afghan fighters who were trying to enter Pakistan.

This morning they were being shifted to Kohat from Parachinar in five or six vehicles. In the process, one of the non-Afghans, travelling in a bus, overpowered a security guard, snatched his rifle, shot him and attempted to hijack the bus. On resistance by the bus driver, the non-Afghan fighter also shot him.

In the ensuing struggle, the bus overturned and fell into a roadside ravine, Major General Rashid Qureshi said.

A number of these non-Afghan fighters on the bus tried to flee. There ensued an exchange of fire between them and the security men.

In this duel, a total of 13 people were killed, including one civilian and five security personnel, besides some six to seven from among the captured non-Afghan fighters, he said.

Some of the fleeing non-Afghan fighters were recaptured while a massive manhunt for the rest had been launched. Additional troops of Pakistan Army had already moved to the place of the incident, who immediately cordoned off the area.

Answering a question, he said from Pakistan side there was no movement of troops or any kind of their mobilization either on the LoC or on the border.—APP

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