Pakistan repels latest attack in tribal region

MIRAN SHAH,Pakistan-Army helicopter gunships and troops repelled a guerrilla raid on a military checkpoint Tuesday,killing at least 15 Islamic militants amid escalated fighting in Pakistan’s tribal belt.With anger still fresh over the government’s deadly assault on Islamabad’s Red Mosque,2,000 women and hundreds of men from a hard-line Islamic group rally to declare the“blood of martyrs”will not be wasted.Fury has surged among hard-liners against President Gen.Pervez Musharraf since the army raid on radicals at the pro-Taliban mosque left 102 people dead three weeks ago.Militants have since stepped up attacks,particularly at the
northwestern frontier.The assault Tuesday by 30 to 40 fighters on the checkpoint near Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan,was among the most brazen yet.Taliban and al-Qaida militants are active in this lawless tribal region near the Afghan border.The militants,who traveled in two trucks,were armed with heavy and light weapons.Troops repelled them with gunfire,then called in helicopter support,army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said.“Our forces retaliated and returned fire,and destroyed their vehicles,”he said.Some of the militants escaped to nearby mountains.He said at least 15 militants were killed and two soldiers were slightly wounded.In other violence in the northwest Tuesday,two roadside bombs and a rocket attack left 10 security forces wounded,and four others were kidnapped,officials said.
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