PESHAWAR: Three soldiers were martyred and seven others injured in an attack on a vehicle of the Frontier Corps in Razmak sub-division of North Waziristan Agency on Monday.

Officials said the soldiers were patrolling the Doseli area when the attackers opened fire on their vehicle. They said the soldiers belonged to Shawal Rifles, a wing of the FC Khyber Pakhtun­khwa.

The injured soldiers were rushed to a hospital in Miramshah, the agency’s headquarters. One of soldiers died on the spot and two others during treatment in the hospital.

Security forces cordoned off the area after the incident and launched a search operation. However, no arrest was reported.

This is the first major incident in Razmak since army launched Zarb-i-Azb operation in 2014

The martyred soldiers were identified as Havildar Jabir Hussain, Lance Naik Amjad Ali and Sepoy Mohsin Ali.

This is the first major incident in Razmak since the army launched Zarb-i-Azb military operation in June 2014.

On Sept 20, the army organised a cricket match between a team of British journalists and the Pakistan XI in Miramshah in an attempt to promote the positive image of the region which was once considered a ‘safe haven’ of militants.

The army has carried out operations in Miramshah, Mirali and others areas of the agency, but it has never extended it to Razmak sub-division which is considered relatively peaceful.

Elders of the area had given assurances to security forces that they would take action against militants in Razmak which is adjacent to the Mehsud area of South Waziristan Agency.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2017