UPPER DIR, Oct 9: One soldier and several militants were killed in a clash close to Dir's border with Afghanistan on Sunday, sources said.

It was the seventh cross border attack in the district since June this year.

Officials were tight-lipped on the clash and casualties. Most of them refused to speak to the media on record.

However, some of them told Dawn on condition of anonymity that one soldier and four militants were killed in the clash.

Two security men were also injured in the incident, they added. Some officials claimed that the clash took place in Panakot area of the district but it could not be confirmed.

There were also contradictory reports about the casualties suffered by militants in the clash. One source claimed that 15 militants were killed.

Other sources said that the incident took place in Karakar area of the district near the border of Afghanistan. The security forces have been deployed along the border in the district after deadly and frequent incursions by militants from across the border.

“The deployment of forces is meant to control infiltration of militants into Pakistan and attacks on checkposts and villagers,” sources said. In Bannu, a constable was killed when a missile hit the boundary wall of official residence of District Police Officer Sajjad Khan in the small hours of Sunday.

Sources said that three missiles were fired at Bannu Cantonment from an unspecified location. One of the missiles hit the backside boundary wall of the DPO house and killed a constable on duty.

The victim was identified as Constable Afsar Ali. The boundary wall of the house was partially damaged in the incident.

Sources said that the other two missiles landed in a deserted place.

The security forces cordoned off the area and blocked the roads, leading to the cantonment area, after the incident.

The security forces and police also launched a joint search operation in Kurram Garhi and other adjacent areas. In Bajaur Agency, three security personnel were injured when an improvised explosive device went off in Sheikh Baba area of Safi teshil on Sunday.

Sources said that security officials were on routine patrolling of the area when they were hit by the IED planted on the road. The injured personnel were shifted to hospital for treatment.

The security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the perpetrators.