Officials: Military, Taliban clash in northwest Pakistan, killing 3 civilians

Officials: Clashes kills 3 in northwest Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — Pakistani security forces shelling Taliban attackers in a militant stronghold near the Afghan border killed at least three civilians, officials said Monday.

The overnight clashes occurred in the vicinity of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal region. A Taliban compound in the same area was targeted by a U.S. missile strike on Sunday that a government official said killed three people.

South Waziristan is a key stronghold for al-Qaida and Taliban fighters, including Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud. It is a frequent target of American missile strikes, which have continued despite militants’ threats of more suicide attacks unless they stop.

Militants attacked at least four military camps and checkpoints between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., leading security forces to use artillery in retaliation, said an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.

“In the exchange of fire, three civilians were killed, and the clashes left three security troops wounded,” said Shahab Ali Shah, South Waziristan’s top administrative official.

He added that some militants were also believed to have been wounded. The intelligence officials confirmed the three deaths and said at least 15 people in houses nearby were wounded by stray shells.

Also early Monday, the bullet-riddled body of an Afghan man was found near the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan tribal region, along with a note accusing him of spying for the United States, local police official Hayat Mohammad said.

Such killings of alleged spies have become fairly routine in North Waziristan, another militant stronghold where American missiles have often landed.

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Rasool Dawar in Miran Shah contributed to this report.