LANDI KOTAL, Jan 19: Militants attacked an army camp on late Sunday night, killing one soldier and injuring dozens others and causing closure of the Peshawar-Torkham highway, a Nato supply route, for some time.

Local people said that loud explosions at around midnight were followed by sounds of firing.

Officials said that militants had fired at least nine rockets from two directions.

The local administration imposed a curfew in Landi Kotal and Jamrud and sealed the Torkham border for nearly four hours, affecting traffic on the highway.

The tribal administration detained at least 14 Khugakhel tribesmen and demolished two houses in Garga.

Local militant ‘commander’ Hazrat Ali claimed responsibility for the rocket attack on the army camp and warned of more attacks if the military operation was not stopped.

Hazrat Ali is wanted for alleged involvement in a number of attacks on Nato supply vehicles. The security forces impounded a ‘blood-stained’ vehicle in the Fatmikhel area and said it had been used by the militants.

Later, a large number of Khugakhel tribesmen took out a procession and demanded an end to the action being taken against them under FCR. They also demanded release of six elders and promised to support the administration if their demands were met.

Tribal elder Hasamuddin told Dawn that the arrest of tribesmen was unjustified because a local militant ‘commander’ had already accepted responsibility for the Sunday night attack.