Banned TTP claims killing of foreign climbers

MIRANSHAH: Pakistan's umbrella Taliban movement on Sunday claimed responsibility for killing nine foreign climbers in the Himalayas, saying it was carried out by a previously unknown faction.

Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan telephoned AFP to claim responsibility on behalf of "one of our factions, Junood ul-Hifa," to avenge the May killing of the Pakistani Taliban deputy leader in a US drone strike.