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Rockets fired on Pakistan paramilitary fort

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March 18, IRNA
Pakistan-Rocket Attack
Unidentified men fired rockets at an army fort in Pakistan's tribal region, but no one was hurt, locals at Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan said.

Locals said that eight rockets were fired late last night, two landed in the nearby electricity grid station, two in a stadium and others in the outskirts of the fort.

They said that the security forces returned fire and the exchange continued for two hours. There was also no report about militants' casualties.

The fresh clash has taken place at a time when the situation is returning to normalcy with the opening of educational institutions and government offices.

The educational institutions and government offices had been shut since March 2 when the security forces launched a major operation against the militants, followed by curfew in Miranshah.

In another development, the police have asked the government officials and offices in areas close to South Waziristan tribal region to take extra security measures after fear that the militants can kidnap government officials or attack them.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the militant leader Maulana Sadiq Noor has denied any ceasefire with the security forces in North Waziristan region.

Tariq Jameel, a purported spokesman of Maulana Sadiq Noor, told the BBC Urdu language radio that they will continue attacks on security forces.

Jameel denied earlier reports that Sadiq Noor has promised not to attack security forces within the limits of 25 kilometers of Miranshah. He rejected the government claims that the militants have links with Afghanistan's Northern Alliance. He said there is no foreigner among them.

The spokesman said negotiations with the government were going on with the government but the security forces launched attack on Saidgey area. He said the talks were kept secret as the government was saying it is under U.S pressure. He said that no foreigner was killed in the military operation and all those killed were local tribesmen.

Jameel asked the government to allow political leaders and media men to see the situation in the area and to expose the government's claim.

He urged the people to put pressure on the government to change its policy about the tribal region.

The security forces launched military operation against the militants on March 2. The army has claimed the killing of more than 100 militants in clashes. Five soldiers also died.

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