Three Pakistani soldiers have been killed and seven others injured in an improvised explosive device explosion in Pakistan™s troubled North Waziristan tribal region.
œThree soldiers were killed and at least seven others wounded when their vehicle was struck with an IED alongside Bannu-Miranshah road early in the morning on Sunday,” said a Pakistani security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A militant group called, Ansarul Islam Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
œWe attacked the military convoy in Bannu region this morning,” said Abu Baseer, a spokesman for the militant group. œSuch attacks are in retaliation for the drone strikes and will continue until the US and Pakistani governments stop targeting mujahideen through the unmanned aircraft.”
Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001, when Pakistan entered an alliance with the United States in the so-called war on terror.
The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif started a movement to establish peace in northwestern Pakistan through negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups, who have been fighting against the government since 2007.
Pakistani militants, however, say US assassination drone strikes on the country™s tribal areas must stop before they consider starting peace talks with Islamabad.
On October 2, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said, œA ceasefire alone is not sufficient. The stoppage of drone strikes is essential, otherwise — if drones continue to strike — we will not accept the ceasefire.”
In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, Nawaz Sharif also condemned the US drone strikes in Pakistan, saying the attacks are counter-productive and a violation of the country™s sovereignty.
IA/HSN
Copyright: Press TV