Taliban Claim Responsibility For Pakistani Post Attack

Islamabad, June 6, IRNA – Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for an early Tuesday attack on a border post in a tribal region as the military sources confirmed death of a soldier and also killing of several militants. The clashes started when a group of heavily armed Taliban launched a pre-dawn attack on the border check post in Mohmand tribal region, bordering Afghanistan. ‘Miscreants, who came from across the border attacked Salala Post in Mohmand Agency at 3 a.m. in the morning,” military sources said. The sources confirmed one soldier was killed and three others were injured. “In exchange of fire terrorists suffered heavy casualties,” the sources said. A Taliban Spokesman claimed responsibility and said six Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack. Ihsanullah Ihsan, spokesman for Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP claimed in phone contact with the media that only one Taliban fighter was killed and two others were injured in clashes. Local media had earlier reported that four Pakistani soldiers and 20 militants were killed in the clashes. The clashes took place at the same area where the U.S. fighter jets bombed posts of Pakistani forces in November last year and killed 24 soldiers. Pakistan as a protest had closed NATO supply line over the deadly strike. Pakistani soldiers said that other militants who had taken part in the Tuesday attack retreated to mountains in Afghanistan. Pakistani security forces say that Taliban fighters, led by Commander Muhammad Wali, have crossed into Afghanistan and routinely launch attacks cross-border on Pakistani forces./end