At least six militants were killed when military thwarted an attack on its check posts near the Afghan border, officials said Wednesday. "About 70 to 80 terrorists physically attacked the posts, six terrorists were killed and nine injured due to an effective response by Pakistani troops," a security official said. The attack occurred on Tuesday night near a post between Tripaman and Inkal Sar in the Lower Dir district, close to the Afghan border in the country's restive north-west.
Militants based in Afghanistan have attacked security posts a number of times souring diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul. Islamabad has blamed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah for the attacks. Fazlullah is believed to be hiding somewhere in Afghanistan's Nuristan province.
In a statement foreign office said it had "strongly" protested the attack and summoned the Afghan Charge d'Affairs. "The Afghan authorities were, once again, urged to take effective steps to stop the use of Afghan territory for repeated cross-border fire and physical attacks by terrorists," the statement said. military has been fighting an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban in the restive North Waziristan tribal district since mid-June. The assault, which was rumoured for months, followed a brazen insurgent attack on Karachi airport that left dozens dead and a peace process with the Pakistani Taliban in tatters.