Rocket attacks kill three soldiers in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - At least three soldiers were killed Tuesday when presumed Islamic insurgents fired rockets at a military camp in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas.

Security officials said that three rockets hit a security camp in the town of Razmak in North Waziristan, one of the region’s seven districts and a hotbed of Al Qaeda linked militants.

“Three soldiers have been killed and three other injured in the attack,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. “The three killed soldiers have been identified.”

Another official said the attackers came from South Waziristan district, which borders Razmak, and were members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organization of a dozen militant outfits.

Pakistani forces launched military operations against TTP in the district in mid-October 2009 and soon claimed victory. But the insurgents retreated to the mountainous countryside, often coming out to attack government forces.

Local militants in North Waziristan have a peace deal with government troops and both sides avoid attacking each other.

North Waziristan is considered a key sanctuary for militants who launch attacks across the border into Afghanistan. The US has been pushing for military operation there.