8 al-Qaeda militants killed in Pakistani Hangu attack

8 al-Qaeda militants killed in Pakistani Hangu attack

Pakistani security forces claim to have killed eight al-Qaeda militants during a terrorist attack on a checkpoint in the northwestern Pakistani town of Hangu’s Spin Tal area.

The militant attack broke out on the Spin Tal Frontier Constabulary (FC) checkpoint on Saturday, leaving two FC soldiers dead and 20 others wounded, intelligence officials said.

“Documents in Arabic and maps also marked in Arabic have been recovered from the spot which shows the attackers also have some foreigners of Arab origin in the squad,” the sources mentioned, referring to one of the slain al-Qaeda militants, carrying an Arab nationality.

On the same day, five FC troops were also wounded in a bomb blast, targeting an FC personnel convoy near Doaba bridge of Hangu district.

However, al-Qaeda militants have yet to claim responsibility for the blast.

Militants have carried out numerous attacks against Pakistani security forces as well as civilians and managed to spread their influence in various regions of the country despite frequent offensives by the Pakistani army.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001.

Thousands more have also been displaced by the wave of violence and militancy in the country.