TIMERGARA, Sept 28: Security forces claimed on Wednesday to have repulsed an attack launched by militants in Kharkai and Binshahi areas of Lower Dir and killed 35 of the assailants.

Talking to reporters, ISPR regional head Lt-Col Arif said that hundreds of Afghan militants had attacked security forces when they were setting up checkpoints on the border. He said the army, Frontier Corps and volunteers of a local militia took part in the operations against the militants who had crossed the border.

“This time militants have left behind the bodies of the killed terrorists inside the Pakistani territory,” the ISPR spokesmanclaimed.

About security forces’ casualty, he said “by the grace of Allah none of our jawans has been hurt”.

The report could not be confirmed from independent sources as the border area has been without any communication system for a long time.

Clashes between the army and militants from across the border at Kharkai and Binshahi top in Lower Dir have become a routine matter. On Sept 24, officials there had claimed killing 15 militants. Two personnel of security forces were killed and three others injured in the clash.

The ISPR spokesman said the army personnel who had launched successful offensive against militants in Swat had been deployed on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Miskini Darra and Binshahi Darra.