Islamabad:
A pro-government tribal volunteer was killed and seven more were injured when Pakistani Taliban launched an overnight attack on their post in Mohmand tribal region, officials said today. The militants also kidnapped two members of the "peace committee" or anti-Taliban force during the attack on the post at Manzari China area, 40 km west of Ghalanai, the main town in Mohmand agency.
The rebels used rockets and automatic guns to target the post, which was destroyed. The injured were taken to a hospital in Ghalani today. Officials said the tribal volunteers exchanged fire with the militants for three hours though there was no report of Taliban casualties. Taliban spokesman Sajjad Mohmand said the militants attacked the tribesmen and killed seven pro-government volunteers but officials confirmed only one death.
Peace committees of pro-government tribesmen have been set up in Mohmand Agency to help security forces fight the Taliban. The militants have carried out several deadly attacks on pro-government tribesmen in Mohmand Agency, which borders Afghanistan.
In December, a Taliban suicide bomber struck the office of a local administrator in Mohmand Agency and killed nearly 60 people and injured 90 others. In July last year, over 50 people were killed in a similar attack in the region.
Thousands of people have fled the Mohmand Agency following major offensives by Pakistani forces to flush out the Taliban. Officials say Afghan militants also provide support to the Pakistani Taliban in Mohmand Agency.