PESHAWAR: Bodies of suspected militants killed in a drone strike across the border in Afghanistan were brought to Malakand on Friday, reports reaching here said. It was not immediately clear which group or groups the militants belonged to.

According to reports from Upper Dir, nine bodies were brought to the northern district from across the border for burial.

They said 21 militants were killed when missiles fired by a drone hit their base in Babrak Thana in the Afghan province of Khost.

However, only nine bodies could be brought home.

The reports said that seven of the militants belonged to various villages of Lower Dir, five to Upper Dir and nine to Swat and other parts of Malakand.

No details were available about the identity of those killed.

Upper Dir borders Afghanistan’s Kunar province.

Local residents said that in the past, bodies of militants killed in Afghanistan used to arrive in ones and twos but this was the first time that such a large number had been killed and bodies brought home for burial.

There was no official confirmation of the reports.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2015