PESHAWAR, Pakistan - At least two Pakistani soldiers and five militants died in a shootout in a northwestern tribal area Saturday, where a suicide bomber killed 51 people at a mosque a day earlier, officials said.
The gun battle took place in Akakhel village in Khyber tribal district as paramilitary troops were carrying out a search operation, a day after the suicide bombing in the lawless area.
“Two paramilitary soldiers were martyred and eight others were wounded in gunfight with militants,” Khyber administration chief Mutahar Zeb told AFP.
“Five militants were also killed in the fighting,” he added.
A senior paramilitary official confirmed the clash and casualties.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosives after more than 500 people packed into a mosque for Friday prayers in Jamrud town in Khyber, killing 51 and wounding 121 people, officials said.
The bombing was the deadliest since May 13 when two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a police training centre in a town about 30 kilometres north of Peshawar, killing 98 people.
Khyber is home to Taliban insurgents and militants from the extremist group Lashkar-e-Islam led by local warlord Mangal Bagh.
A little known militant spokesman who identified himself as Mohammad Talha claimed responsibility by telephone on behalf of the umbrella militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The authenticity of the claim could not be verified but bombings blamed on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked networks have killed more than 4,550 people since 2007, destabilising the nuclear-armed state. AFP
The gun battle took place in Akakhel village in Khyber tribal district as paramilitary troops were carrying out a search operation, a day after the suicide bombing in the lawless area.
“Two paramilitary soldiers were martyred and eight others were wounded in gunfight with militants,” Khyber administration chief Mutahar Zeb told AFP.
“Five militants were also killed in the fighting,” he added.
A senior paramilitary official confirmed the clash and casualties.
A suicide bomber detonated his explosives after more than 500 people packed into a mosque for Friday prayers in Jamrud town in Khyber, killing 51 and wounding 121 people, officials said.
The bombing was the deadliest since May 13 when two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a police training centre in a town about 30 kilometres north of Peshawar, killing 98 people.
Khyber is home to Taliban insurgents and militants from the extremist group Lashkar-e-Islam led by local warlord Mangal Bagh.
A little known militant spokesman who identified himself as Mohammad Talha claimed responsibility by telephone on behalf of the umbrella militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The authenticity of the claim could not be verified but bombings blamed on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked networks have killed more than 4,550 people since 2007, destabilising the nuclear-armed state. AFP
