AFGHANISTAN: Five soldiers killed close to Pakistani border

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is from the Qatar News Agency (QNA)

ISLAMABAD, Feb 8 2003 (IPS) - Unknown assailants attacked a military post in southern Afghanistan, killing five soldiers of the Afghan allied forces, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) agency reported Saturday.

The attackers targeted the Ayoub Mama post at Choto in Helmand province close to the Pakistani border on Friday evening. Four Afghan soldiers were also wounded, the report added.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack but the area is known to have a considerable presence of Taliban fighters as well as forces under rebel commander Gulbadeen Hikmatyar.

The government forces have launched a manhunt for the assailants.

There had been reports of a deteriorating law and order situation in the northern parts of the Helmand province.