Militants have opened fire on a civilian convoy escorted by security forces in Pakistan’s tribal region, killing at least 18 people.
The attack took place near the Char Khel village in the Pashtun-majority Kurram region near the Afghan border as the vehicles were en route to Peshawar.
The gunmen opened fire with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
There were reports that women and children were among the victims. The dpa news agency reports that the victims were Shi’ite Muslims.
Pakistani armed forces have killed some 100 militants in the Kurram region in recent months, according to Reuters. The road connecting Kurram to Peshawar is often closed because of military operations, forcing travelers to take another dangerous route through Afghanistan.
compiled from agency reports
The attack took place near the Char Khel village in the Pashtun-majority Kurram region near the Afghan border as the vehicles were en route to Peshawar.
The gunmen opened fire with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
There were reports that women and children were among the victims. The dpa news agency reports that the victims were Shi’ite Muslims.
Pakistani armed forces have killed some 100 militants in the Kurram region in recent months, according to Reuters. The road connecting Kurram to Peshawar is often closed because of military operations, forcing travelers to take another dangerous route through Afghanistan.
compiled from agency reports