Militant hideouts attacked in North Waziristan

Pakistani security forces attacked militant hideouts with helicopter gunships in North Waziristan after one of its men was injured in a blast, media reported Wednesday.

Security officials said an improvised explosive device went off Tuesday on Ghulam Khan Road near Saidgee checkpost along the Afghan border, 5 km north of Miramshah, the capital of North Waziristan, Dawn online reported.

Four to five security personnel were carrying water from a nearby spring when the explosive device went off. One of them was injured.

Security personnel cordoned off the area and searched for militants about 30 minutes. They also attacked the hideouts of the insurgents. However, no casualty was reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet. The blast took place at a time the shura of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is meeting to decide the future of peace talks and the ceasefire which expired April 10.

A Taliban leader said it appeared that some unscrupulous elements were trying to create a misunderstanding between security forces and the Taliban to derail the peace process, the report said.