By DPA,
Islamabad : Four school children and 24 Islamic militants were killed Tuesday in ongoing violence in Pakistan’s lawless tribal region, where government forces are fighting Taliban and Al Qaeda rebels.
A gunman with suspected Taliban links opened fire on a group of students in the Utman Khel area of tribal Orakzai district earlier in the day, killing at least four of them.
The attack came as the students were walking to school, an official in the district’s administration said.
“Four students were fatally shot while three others suffered bullet wounds,” said Asmatullah, who identified himself with a single name.
Aaj News television channel reported that the militants wanted to kidnap the students. At least two were seized.
The assault triggered a gunfight between the militants and a pro-government militia, which was raised to resist the Taliban insurgency. One attacker was killed and three others injured in that clash.
Taliban fighters in Orakzai are commanded by Hakeemullah Mehsud. He recently succeeded Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who died in a US missile strike on his stronghold of South Waziristan early last month.
Orakzai is the only district in Pakistan’s troubled tribal region which does not share a border with neighbouring Afghanistan.
In the neighbouring Khyber tribal district, 24 Islamist militants died when gunship helicopters pounded their positions.
“Security forces also destroyed two militant headquarters, two hideouts and two vehicles,” said a statement from the paramilitary Frontier Corps.
Four paramilitary soldiers were also injured in what was believed to be a hand grenade attack in the same area.
Security forces launched an offensive against Islamist insurgents in Khyber last week, killing more than 150 rebels and arresting nearly 130 in continued fighting. Two dozen militant hideouts and scores of houses were also destroyed.
Khyber serves as the key land route to haul fuel and military equipment for NATO forces fighting the Taliban in landlocked Afghanistan. Militants regularly attack the NATO-bound trucks, temporarily suspending the supplies.