Deadly attack on Pakistan outpost puts Afghanistan ceasefire at risk

"An armed group rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into the Bajaur district camp's gate on Thursday and then launched a gun battle, security sources said. It was the latest in a string of deadly incidents in the border region that threaten the fragile ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul. The vehicle triggered a huge explosion, one Pakistani official told Reuters news agency. The fighters then rushed the camp and opened indiscriminate fire."

"Reports say that eight or nine Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack. At least 10 of the attackers were killed, the AFP news agency reported, while about 35 security personnel were wounded. A Reuters journalist in the town of Bajaur said the blast was felt at markets more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the compound. Images showed that most of the outpost's structures had been destroyed or charred by flames."

"Pakistani military troops reportedly shut down nearby roads and surrounded the compound, which is located on the mountainous border with Afghanistan. The Pakistan Taliban (TTP), which seeks to overthrow the Pakistani government via attacks launched from its base in the remote border area of Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. The latest attack adds to several other assaults in the same region, which have killed more than 20 people in recent days."

"A car bomb killed more than a dozen as it targeted a police post, while at least nine people were killed in an explosion at a market. Three security personnel were wounded in Bajaur's Inayat Killi area when a mortar shell landed inside another camp, officials told AFP. Islamabad claims Afghanistan is harbouring the armed group."

A vehicle filled with explosives rammed the gate of a security compound in Pakistan’s Bajaur district, triggering a huge explosion. Fighters then rushed the camp and opened indiscriminate fire, killing several paramilitary officers and soldiers. Reports said eight or nine attackers were killed, while about 35 security personnel were wounded. The blast was felt in markets more than 20 kilometres away, and images showed much of the outpost destroyed or charred. Pakistani troops shut down nearby roads and surrounded the compound on the mountainous border with Afghanistan. The Afghan-based Pakistan Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility. The attack followed other deadly incidents in the northwest region, including a car bomb targeting a police post and an explosion at a market, raising fears for a shaky ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul.

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