Friendly fire, not militants, killed 14 Pak security officials in Khyber: Yasin Malik

Peshawar, Mar 30(ANI): The deaths of 14 Pakistani security officials in the Khyber tribal region on Monday evening were caused by a friendly fire, Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Asif Yasin Malik has said.

The deaths were previously blamed on militants, who were said to have ambushed the paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel when they were returning to their base after carrying out a search operation in the nearby Sipah area.

According to a security official who had confirmed the attack and the casualties, the security personnel were travelling in a convoy of up to four vehicles at the time of the attack.

However, General Malik told media persons during the funeral prayers of the killed soldiers that a mortar shell fired as cover missed its target and landed on the troops, killing two senior officers among others.

The mortar cover was asked by the troops themselves, after they had come under attack from terrorists, he added.

General Malik said the troops were conducting their routine search and cordon operation in Shindhand area of Bara tehsil after they received information that militants, who could pose a threat to Peshawar's security, were gathering in the area.

A Frontier Corps (FC) unit led by a colonel was conducting the operation, he added. (ANI)