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Pakistani border death toll rises Pakistani border death toll rises
(about 2 hours later)
At least 45 Pakistani soldiers and 150 pro-Taleban militants have died in three days of fierce fighting in North Waziristan, the Pakistani army says.At least 45 Pakistani soldiers and 150 pro-Taleban militants have died in three days of fierce fighting in North Waziristan, the Pakistani army says.
Earlier, the military said 50 of its troops had gone missing during the battle near the Afghan border. It is the heaviest fighting in the Waziristan region, which borders Afghanistan, for many months.
The soldiers disappeared after militants attacked security posts and an army patrol outside the town of Mir Ali over the weekend. US and Nato forces in Afghanistan have repeatedly said that Pakistan is not doing enough to stop militants crossing the border to attack their troops.
By Monday night, many of the men had been relocated, but 25 were found dead. The militants have vowed to overthrow President Musharraf.
Pakistani army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said 50 militants had been injured in fighting since Sunday. The three days of fighting is centred around the town of Mir Ali.
He said the army was trying to establish contact with the missing soldiers. The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that Mir Ali is known as a base for foreign militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
Fierce fighting The violence has been escalating since mid-July when a ceasefire between the army and the militants broke down.
After a number of attacks on military convoys over the weekend, the army sent helicopter gunships and jet fighters to target suspected militant positions in several villages. 'Punitive action'
The army says the victims were militants and soldiers but local people report at least 10 civilians were among the dead. On Monday the army said that 50 of its soldiers had gone missing. Now it says 25 of the missing are dead - some troops have been found alive, but up to 15 soldiers are still unaccounted for.
Maj Gen Arshad said he was not aware of any civilian casualties in the fighting. The army says it has rejected a ceasefire proposed by the militants and will "continue punitive action till complete peace is restored", the Associated Press news agency reports.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Ashfaq Kiani has become the new vice-chief of the army. Our correspondent says that, by all accounts, the fighting in North Waziristan has been extraordinarily fierce.
The former head of Pakistani intelligence is expected to become overall head of the army shortly if President Pervez Musharraf resigns from this position as promised. The army has been bombing suspected militant positions in villages using helicopter gun ships and jet fighters.
He would inherit an army under growing pressure from insurgents in the tribal areas near the Afghan border. Locals report civilians among the dead, including women and children.
Correspondents say that these military campaigns are deeply unpopular in Pakistan. The battles are said to have begun when militants ambushed a number of army convoys on Saturday.
They are widely seen as carried out under American pressure since Washington wants Pakistan to crack down on pro-Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters near the Afghan border. All changed
Low morale Traditionally the security forces kept out of the tribal border areas.
However, it is believed the upper ranks of the army broadly accept this policy whatever their personal misgivings. That all changed in 2001 after Gen Musharraf allied Pakistan to the US-led 'war on terror' and vowed to crack down on militants based in the tribal regions.
Lt Gen Kiani faces a huge challenge in Waziristan The militants want to overthrow Gen Musharraf
For much of that time there has been a heavy military presence in Waziristan.
But militants have still managed to increase their influence and control in many areas.
Hundreds of soldiers have been killed. But critics say that the military has not done enough to crack down on the militants.
Moreover, elements in the army and the intelligence services have been accused of helping them.
The military campaigns are deeply unpopular in Pakistan as they are widely seen as being carried out under American pressure.
However, our correspondent says it is believed the upper ranks of the army broadly accept this policy whatever their personal misgivings.
Analysts say the danger is in the lower ranks where morale seems to be low.Analysts say the danger is in the lower ranks where morale seems to be low.
Another batch of more than 200 soldiers were captured recently by militants, and appear to have surrendered without a fight.Another batch of more than 200 soldiers were captured recently by militants, and appear to have surrendered without a fight.
Correspondents say that Lt Gen Kiani will need all his skills to tackle the growing insurgency in the tribal areas. The militants have demanded the release of a number of prisoners and an end to military deployment in their area.
Pro-Taleban militants have stepped up attacks on the army after a ceasefire collapsed in mid-July. So far, a number of the soldiers have been freed, while several others have been killed.