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Pakistan Khyber death toll rises | Pakistan Khyber death toll rises |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pakistan's military says an officer was killed and two others injured in an ambush by militants in the Khyber tribal area bordering Afghanistan. | Pakistan's military says an officer was killed and two others injured in an ambush by militants in the Khyber tribal area bordering Afghanistan. |
They were among rescuers who had gone to the site of an army helicopter crash in a remote valley. The pilot and another on board died, officials say. | They were among rescuers who had gone to the site of an army helicopter crash in a remote valley. The pilot and another on board died, officials say. |
The helicopter was on a surveillance mission, the army said. | The helicopter was on a surveillance mission, the army said. |
Earlier on Wednesday, a suicide bomber killed at least 12 people in another part of Khyber, just west of Peshawar. | Earlier on Wednesday, a suicide bomber killed at least 12 people in another part of Khyber, just west of Peshawar. |
Most of those killed in the blast in Wazirdand - on the main road from Peshawar to the Afghan capital, Kabul - were policemen. | Most of those killed in the blast in Wazirdand - on the main road from Peshawar to the Afghan capital, Kabul - were policemen. |
Pakistani forces have been conducting limited operations in some parts of Khyber region for several months. | Pakistani forces have been conducting limited operations in some parts of Khyber region for several months. |
This has led to a decline in militant attacks in Peshawar, the regional capital, and on Nato supply trucks passing through Khyber region. | This has led to a decline in militant attacks in Peshawar, the regional capital, and on Nato supply trucks passing through Khyber region. |
Militant links | Militant links |
Wednesday's attacks point to renewed militant activity in the area amid unconfirmed reports of the death of top Pakistani Taliban commander, Hakimullah Mehsud, in a drone strike, says the BBC's Ilyas Khan in Islamabad. | Wednesday's attacks point to renewed militant activity in the area amid unconfirmed reports of the death of top Pakistani Taliban commander, Hakimullah Mehsud, in a drone strike, says the BBC's Ilyas Khan in Islamabad. |
The ambush took place in the remote, mountainous Tirah valley of Khyber, following the crash of a helicopter that was on a surveillance flight, an administration official said. | The ambush took place in the remote, mountainous Tirah valley of Khyber, following the crash of a helicopter that was on a surveillance flight, an administration official said. |
The pilot of the army-operated helicopter, and a gunman on board, are believed to have been killed in the crash, the official said. | The pilot of the army-operated helicopter, and a gunman on board, are believed to have been killed in the crash, the official said. |
Officials say the aircraft crashed due to technical reasons. The militants have not said they shot it down. | |
The official said suspected militants ambushed a rescue party of the army which arrived at the scene of the crash some time later. | The official said suspected militants ambushed a rescue party of the army which arrived at the scene of the crash some time later. |
An army brigadier was killed in the ambush, while a major and a lieutenant were injured, he said. | An army brigadier was killed in the ambush, while a major and a lieutenant were injured, he said. |
Pakistani army contingents were first deployed in the Tirah valley in late 2001, just before the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. | Pakistani army contingents were first deployed in the Tirah valley in late 2001, just before the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. |
Their aviation wing has since been targeting hideouts of local militants in the area, our correspondent says. | Their aviation wing has since been targeting hideouts of local militants in the area, our correspondent says. |
Tirah is a stronghold of local and foreign militants and serves as the rear base of a local militant group led by warlord Mangal Bagh. | Tirah is a stronghold of local and foreign militants and serves as the rear base of a local militant group led by warlord Mangal Bagh. |
Until recently the group has denied having any links with Taliban or any activity across the border in Afghanistan. | Until recently the group has denied having any links with Taliban or any activity across the border in Afghanistan. |
But analysts say there are growing indications of co-operation between this group and Taliban militants who are fanning out to the region from the Waziristan and Orakzai tribal districts due to military operations there. | But analysts say there are growing indications of co-operation between this group and Taliban militants who are fanning out to the region from the Waziristan and Orakzai tribal districts due to military operations there. |
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