Islamabad: Four paramilitary personnel were killed and two more injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire today in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber tribal region, where paramilitary forces recently launched a crackdown against militants.

The security personnel were on patrol in Bara sub-district of Khyber Agency when they were attacked. The gunmen fled after the attack. Security forces launched a search to trace the assailants, TV channels reported. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The operation launched in Khyber Agency against three outlawed groups, including the Lashkar-e-Islam led by Mangal Bagh, has been put on hold for the past four days to facilitate peace talks brokered by a jirga or council of tribal elders.

The jirga has been negotiating with the political administration of the tribal agency and Mangal Bagh, who has fled to the remote Tirah Valley. Meanwhile, ruling Pakistan People's Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the security forces had arrested 70 members of the three outlawed militant groups in Khyber Agency, including 22 "hardcore militants".

He said the government had turned down a request from Mangal Bagh for the release of his men. The security forces had also destroyed the private jails, radio stations and hideouts of the three militant groups, he said.

Source : PTI