Soldier martyred, two injured in North Waziristan landmine blast

PESHAWAR - One soldier died and two others injured in a landmine blast in Mir Ali tehsil's Sarobi area in North Waziristan agency on Thursday.

According to political administration, the security forces were on routine patrol in Saroobi when the IED exploded.

The injured were shifted to the Agency Headquarter hospital Miranshah immediately.

The martyred soldier was identified as Sepoy Amanullah, while the injured include Havaldar Fazal Abbas and Sepoy Nafees.

Soon after the bomb attack, security forces cordoned off the area and began a search operation. No further details are available.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra expressed grief at the loss of precious lives and praised the sacrifices by the armed forces to ensure peace is maintained. He said that the whole nation was standing with the armed forces in their efforts against terrorism.

Security forces are engaged in a military action Zarb-i-Azab in the area, against militants since June 15, 2014, last. However, under the infamous Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) clauses, the security forces allegedly detain local tribesmen over suspected involvement in these blasts, which is leading to unrest amongst the affected tribesmen.

Frequent violent acts, mostly attacks against personnel of security forces and convoys have occurred in different parts of the tribal agency, in the last several weeks.

At least 14 people, including eight military and paramilitary personnel, were killed in four separate attacks in North Waziristan last month.