PESHAWAR, July 6: Six militants, including a foreigner, were arrested after an armed clash that left one soldier dead and four others injured in the Meeradeen area of Shawal valley in the North Waziristan agency on Wednesday, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain said.

He said at a press conference here that 4,000 troops were being sent to the Afghan border to “stop alleged infiltration of militants from the tribal areas into Afghanistan”.

He, however, advised the Afghan government to improve its internal security and cordon off the border to end infiltration, if there was any, from Pakistan.

Giving details of the clash, he said that security forces chased a speeding vehicle after its driver tried to flee when signalled to stop at a checkpoint.

“The troops launched a massive search operation in the whole Meeradeen area after the vehicle sped away towards the border between the two countries,” said the commander.

Four militants were arrested after the forces intercepted the vehicle, he said.

The search operation was pursued and suddenly a group of soldiers came under fire as a result of which one of them died and four suffered injuries.

According to the commander, two of the injured soldiers received bullet wounds, whereas the other two were hurt when their vehicle overturned during the firing. Later, the troops overpowered two more militants.

He said the operation was completed by 4pm.

“One of those arrested has been confirmed to be a foreigner, either of Uzbek or Arab origin,” he claimed, adding that the “nationality of the remaining five has not yet been established”.

When asked about a likely military operation in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies bordering the Kunar province where scores of American soldiers died in recent attacks by Taliban, he said: “We would conduct an operation only if we have information about the target, otherwise, we have no plan to conduct a military operation in any part of the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.” He the army had set up 731 checkpoints along the border for surveillance.

Besides, he said, 4000 more troops were being deployed to effectively guard the border during the upcoming parliamentary elections in Afghanistan.

He rejected the Afghan government’s repeated allegations of infiltration from Pakistan and said it reflected Kabul’s failure to ensure peace in its territory.

“The factual position is that infiltration of militants is taking place from Afghanistan into Pakistan and similarly drugs and weapons are still coming into Pakistan from the neighbouring country because of their poor surveillance,” said the commander.