North Waziristan, mortar attack, Pak-Afghan border
Intelligence officials in the region's main town Miramshah confirmed the mortar attack, an AFP report said. — Photo by Reuters

MIRAMSHAH: Five civilians were killed and six wounded when mortar shells reportedly fired from Afghanistan hit a border village in northwest Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, military officials said Friday.

Both US-led Nato coalition forces and Taliban insurgents operating across the border have used mortars as part of combat operations in the nine-year war and neither side was immediately available to comment on the attack.

“Five mortar shells fired from the Afghan side landed in Teti Madakhel village,” in the Mir Ali district of North Waziristan region late Thursday, a military official said.

He said the mortars hit houses located just three kilometres from the border.

“As a result, five civilians — three women and two men — were killed and six injured,” he said.

The injured were confirmed by a doctor at the nearby state-run hospital in Mir Ali.

Intelligence officials in the region's main town Miramshah confirmed the mortar attack and said it came from the neighbouring Afghan province of Khost.

A Nato spokesman in Kabul said the alliance force was looking into reports of the shelling but had no immediate information.

Washington has branded North Waziristan region an al Qaeda headquarters and a hub for militants fighting Nato-led troops in Afghanistan, and it wants the Pakistan army to launch a ground offensive in the district.

Opinion

Editorial

China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...
United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.