Context
18 people were killed when Taliban gunmen attacked a check post in Khyber Agency. Four ethnic Pashtun tribesmen and a paramilitary solider were among those who died in Saturday’s attacks. 18 militants were also killed in the retaliatory fire by security forces.
The Taliban has stepped up its attacks in retaliation to local lashkars helping the Pakistani army. Saturday’s ambush followed a suicide bombing in Dir at a funeral of a pro government supporter which killed 40 people. Militants also targeted a school bus on Tuesday in which five people were killed. The militants claimed the children belonged to families of pro government tribesmen.
