KHAR, Aug 5: A Bajaur Scouts’ camp came under rocket attack in the Mamond tehsil early on Sunday morning, officials said. They said that five rockets were fired on the camp in the Katkot village from surrounding hilltops. However, security forces retaliated with mortar fire, forcing the attackers to flee. No loss of life was reported.

Witnesses said that the rocket attack was followed by a heavy exchange of fire between the assailants and the Scouts. They said that the attack took place at a time when talks between tribal elders and local militants to restore peace in the troubled agency had entered a final phase.

Meanwhile, militant commanders, who held talks with a 150-member tribal jirga, denied any hand in the attack.

The militants also assured full cooperation to the jirga in its efforts to defuse the situation and restore peace in the tribal agency, sources said.

The jirga would submit its report on talks with militants to the political authorities on Monday, the sources added.

Our Swat Correspondent adds: Two unmanned police checkpoints were destroyed by explosives in different areas here on Saturday night, officials and witnesses said.

They said that in the first blast, a police checkpoint on the main Khwazakhela road near Gunj Alam was destroyed. The explosion was heard in far-off areas and caused panic among the people, they said.

In the second incident, an explosive device went off near the Sangota checkpoint of the Mingora Police Station, destroying the building but causing no loss of life.