BAJAUR: A soldier was martyred when militants from across the Afghan border opened fire on a post of security forces in the border area in Bajaur tribal district on Tuesday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists from Afghanistan side attacked the post of security personnel located in the border area in Bajaur on Monday night.

It said that Sepoy Sabir Shah, 24, was martyred in the attack and his body was later sent to his native area in Kohat district. According to the ISPR statement, Pakistan has been consistently raising the issue of border management with other side to avoid use of Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan.

Bajaur has witnessed numerous such attacks in the past in which both security personnel and civilians have been martyred. The last attack from across the Afghan border took place on July 29, martyring a soldier.

The people of Bajaur tribal district have strongly condemned the latest attack and termed it unacceptable, saying that they would not tolerate such an attack in future.

On Saturday, two soldiers were martyred in a shootout with unidentified militants during an intelligence-based operation near Spelga village in North Waziristan tribal district.

In July, a United Nations report said more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents were hiding in Afghanistan, most belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, AP adds.

Such attacks have raised fears that the Taliban are regrouping.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2020