Suspected militants hit Army camp in Shawal
By Javed Afridi & Haji Mujtaba
PESHAWAR/MIRANSHAH: Suspected militants twice attacked an Army camp and a military convoy a day after the Army withdrew soldiers from a number of check posts in North Waziristan following a secret peace deal between the two sides.
Three missiles were fired at Mana Military Camp in Shawal, 20 kilometres West of Miranshah, during the night between Saturday and Sunday. The security forces hit back by launching artillery shells against the attackers.
The camp was attacked again with a volley of shells late in the night, which too was retaliated by the security forces. Exchange of fire continued till late in the night. A military convoy heading from Miranshah to Gorbaz was attacked by suspected militants, injuring one of the security men, Riaz. Also, two tribesmen were injured when security forces in a military convoy opened fire at a passing vehicle on suspicion of carrying militants.
The Army convoy was on its way to Bannu from Miranshah Military Camp when the occupants of the approaching vehicle failed to notice signal of the forces to stop. One of the injured whose name could not be ascertained was flown to CMH Bannu by the security forces, while the other, identified as Hazrat Ullah, was shifted to the Agency Hospital, Miranshah.
Tribal sources told 'The News' that militants groups have denied involvement in the attacks saying they had already announced a unilateral ceasefire on December 17. The ceasefire was to end on January 1, but was later extended till 20 of this month.
Taking advantage of the ceasefire, a tribal Jirga continued its efforts to strike a peace deal between the government and the militants in North Waziristan. Tribal sources held that the government side took more interest in taming militants in North Waziristan after government announced Baitullah Mehsud, a militant commander in South Waziristan, to be the main suspect in the assassination of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
In a quid pro quo response to halting attacks by the militants against the security forces, the government removed Army soldiers from six key check posts in the agency, including Kajori,Esha, Gora Qabaristan, Sargardan Banda and Boya check posts and replaced them with paramilitary forces.
Sources claimed that the government was contemplating for a full-fledged operation against Baitullah-led militants in South Waziristan and was therefore interested in rolling down military engagements in other parts, especially in North Waziristan.