MIRANSHAH: A tribal woman was killed and two others injured after security forces used artillery fire to pound the hideouts of suspected Taliban militants who targeted a checkpost in North Waziristan Monday, officials said.
They said she died when an artillery shell hit her home in Qutabkhel village near Miranshah moments after the Taliban fired three rockets on Chashma checkpost. “A girl and a woman were injured in the same incident,” local officials said. “The Taliban are using the local population as human shields.” The security forces use artillery, mortar and helicopters instead of ground forces against the Taliban to avoid fatalities. The security forces also used artillery fire in the Dandi Darpakhel area late Sunday when a checkpost was attacked. |