Pakistani soldiers have gunned down at least 23 militants in the lawless North Waziristan region when a convoy of security forces carrying injured personnel was ambushed, military sources said today.
A group of terrorists ambushed the convoy returning from the Khajori post late last night after it was hit by a suicide bomber yesterday.
Five soldiers were killed and 34 others wounded when the suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the military checkpoint.
"Security forces valiantly responded and encircled fleeing terrorists and inflicted heavy casualties on them. Firefight continued for some time which resulted into killing of 23 militants," a senior Pakistani military officer said on condition of anonymity.
Three soldiers were also injured in the encounter. Troops cordoned off the area and were carrying out a search operation to hunt down militants involved in the truck suicide bombing.
Meanwhile, at least six suspected militants were killed and 12 others were wounded when Pakistani forces raided two hotels in North Waziristan's Mir Ali area.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for yesterday's suicide attack, saying that it was carried out to avenge their ex-chief Hakimullah Mehsud's death.
North Waziristan, one of the seven tribal districts along the Afghan border, is a hotbed of Taliban militants. The TTP has led a bloody campaign against Pakistan in recent years, carrying out hundreds of attacks on security forces, mainly in the country's northwest.
