Pakistan | Military sends helicopters to help flooded areas

Pakistan’s military and authorities have deployed helicopters and boats to evacuate residents from the worst-hit areas in the country’s north, where monsoon rains and flash floods washed away several villages this week. The government says so far three people have died while 285,000 have been affected by the floods in and around the city of Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Bridges, homes, mosques, hotels and a power station in Chitral have also been destroyed by the flooding. The provincial disaster management authority says rescuers were still having difficulties trying to reach the flooded region yesterday because many roads have been washed away. Authorities say it’s unclear how many people remain trapped in the flood-affected areas. Floods triggered by monsoon rains kill scores of people often in Pakistan.

Afghanistan | Suicide bomber kills 15 people

A suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vest among a crowd of shoppers at a market in northern Afghanistan yesterday, killing at least 15 people, an official said. The powerful explosion in Faryab province’s Almar district also wounded at least 38 people, said Abdul Satar Barez, the acting provincial governor. Both civilians and Afghan trops were among the casualties, he added. Deputy provincial police chief Baryalia Basharyar said the “target of the attacker were military forces that were present in the area but the majority of the victims were innocent civilians.” Barez also said he feared the final death toll may be higher as many among the wounded were in critical condition. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks on Afghan soldiers and police in recent months. U.S. and NATO troops formally ended their combat mission at the end of last year, leaving Afghan forces in charge of the security in the country.