11 killed in mortar attack in northwestern Pak

Islamabad, Nov 1 (PTI) At least 11 people were killed and
seven others injured Saturday in a mortar attack targeting a
security check post in Pakistan's troubled northwestern Swat
valley, where troops are conducting operations against the
local Taliban.

A mortar shell landed near Wanay check post, where a
large number of people had gathered before the lifting of
curfew restrictions in the area Saturday morning.

It was not immediately clear who had fired the mortar
shell though authorities suspected the attack was carried out
by militants active in the area. The 11 dead were believed to
be civilians, TV channels reported.

In a similar incident in the adjoining Mohmand tribal
region, two persons, including a child, were killed when a
mortar shell struck a house. No further details were available
about the incident.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters have been killed in the
troubled Swat valley in North West Frontier Province since
Pakistani security forces launched an anti-militancy operation
in the area in October last year. PTI RHL
PMR
NNNN