4 paramilitary troops among 6 killed in attack on gas field in NW Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - At least six people, including four para-military troops were killed when suspected militants attacked a gas field in northwestern Pakistan, police said on Tuesday.

A group of heavily armed militants stormed the gas field in Hangu district of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkwa province, which borders neighboring Afghanistan late on Monday, local police chief Irfan Khan told reporters.

The fatalities included two private guards.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, however, militants loyal to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the mother organization of Pakistani Taliban, have been attacking the security forces and installations in the region.

Pakistan has seen a surge in attacks on security forces since the Taliban's recapture of Afghanistan in August 2021. Islamabad has been calling upon Kabul to not allow militant groups to use its soil as a launchpad to attack Pakistani security forces.

Pakistan is believed to have a degree of influence over the Taliban.

However, in contrast to Islamabad's hopes for a further decrease in attacks from the bordering areas following the Taliban retaking control of Kabul, the security forces have still been facing a series of deadly attacks.