PARACHINAR: One soldier laid down his life during a gunfight with suspected militants in central division of Kurram Agency on Monday. A captain and another soldier suffered injuries in the clash.

Officials said that helicopter gunships were engaged to assist the troops on the ground and several militants were killed in shelling.

However, the claim could not be verified from independent sources.

Clashes erupted in the Gundau Zawa area, adjacent to the Tirah Valley in the Khyber tribal region. The incident coincided with Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s visit to the Tirah Valley.

The deceased soldier was identified as Ismail while the injured were Captain Ghafar and Naik Khizar.

Later, the troops launched an operation in the area to trace the militants.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2017