Militant group warns Pak govt over census in Khyber region

"We will continue opposing government policies unless the government or its advisers begin talks with us," Lashkar-e -Islam chief Mangal Bagh Afridi said in a speech broadcast on his private FM radio channel in Tirah valley.

Afridi said elected representatives and tribal elders were ignoring the issue of law and order in Khyber Agency and taking more interest in voter registration and census operations, The Express Tribune newspaper reported today.

"Hundreds of people have died in Khyber Agency but no government agency or public representative has bothered to list their names or establish a team for the purpose," he claimed.

Criticising the government's Benazir Income Support Programme, Afridi said his group will not let the scheme succeed in the area. He threatened all persons who sought to participate in the programme with dire consequences.

In a separate development, a seven-year-old child died and three persons were injured as security forces fought militants in Bara Malik and Deen Khel areas of Khyber Agency. The injured included two security personnel. Three vehicles of the security forces were set ablaze by the rebels.

Militants attacked a security forces convoy with heavy weapons and rockets. The subsequent exchange of fire killed the child while his grandfather was injured. Four militants were arrested from the area.

In yet another incident, two persons were seriously injured when a bomb ripped through a terminal for NATO supply vehicles in Torkham area of Khyber Agency. Torkham is located close to the Afghan border. NATO containers were damaged in the attack.