Police Say 1 Dead in Pakistan Checkpoint Attack

Posted June 1st, 2011 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
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Police in northwestern Pakistan say about 200 militants have crossed the border from Afghanistan and attacked a security checkpoint, killing at least one person.

Authorities said the attack happened Wednesday in the town of Shaltalo, in the Dir region along the border with Afghanistan's Kunar province.

Militants have launched a number of attacks against Pakistani security forces following the May 2 killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and a military offensive targeting militants in the country's tribal region.

Also Wednesday, military officials said a helicopter carrying the head of a paramilitary force crashed into the Indus River in eastern Pakistan.

The helicopter was transporting Major General Mohammed Nawaz, who commands the force known as the Punjab Rangers, as well as four other people when it went down in Punjab province.

Officials said there was no confirmation of any casualties, and that bad weather may be to blame for the crash.