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Pakistani troops killed in clash | Pakistani troops killed in clash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least seven Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a clash with pro-Taleban militants in a tribal area near the Afghan border, the military says. | At least seven Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a clash with pro-Taleban militants in a tribal area near the Afghan border, the military says. |
Twenty-three tribal militants were also killed in the fighting in Mohmand agency, the army said. | Twenty-three tribal militants were also killed in the fighting in Mohmand agency, the army said. |
Fighting broke out after militants ambushed the troops, it said. | Fighting broke out after militants ambushed the troops, it said. |
Attacks by pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's north-west have soared in the past year, but Mohmand agency has seen relatively little of the violence. | Attacks by pro-Taleban militants in Pakistan's north-west have soared in the past year, but Mohmand agency has seen relatively little of the violence. |
Fighting | Fighting |
"The militants attacked a security forces convoy and the forces responded with the help of local people, killing 23 of the attackers," military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad told the AFP news agency. | "The militants attacked a security forces convoy and the forces responded with the help of local people, killing 23 of the attackers," military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad told the AFP news agency. |
Reports said the army convoy was travelling to Mohmand's main town of Ghalanai when it came under attack. | Reports said the army convoy was travelling to Mohmand's main town of Ghalanai when it came under attack. |
Residents said the security forces responded with artillery fire and helicopter gunships were called in, Reuters news agency reports. | Residents said the security forces responded with artillery fire and helicopter gunships were called in, Reuters news agency reports. |
Militancy has spread across north-west Pakistan since last July, when troops stormed the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad to stop armed militants trying to enforce their version of strict Islamic law in the capital. | |
More than 100 people were killed in the operation. | More than 100 people were killed in the operation. |
The pro-Taleban militants said none of their fighters had been killed in the clash in Mohmand. | |
"We will continue to mount attacks from Swat to Waziristan until the army operation is discontinued, and Maulana Abdul Aziz and his companions are released," a spokesman told the BBC's Urdu service. | |
Abdul Aziz was the head cleric of the Red Mosque until being arrested in July. | |
There have been few reports of clashes in Mohmand, which is situated next to another tribal agency Bajaur. | There have been few reports of clashes in Mohmand, which is situated next to another tribal agency Bajaur. |
Hundreds of Pakistani troops have been killed in clashes with militants since they were sent into tribal areas bordering Afghanistan after the attacks of 11 September, 2001. | Hundreds of Pakistani troops have been killed in clashes with militants since they were sent into tribal areas bordering Afghanistan after the attacks of 11 September, 2001. |
The US and Nato say the border region has become a "safe haven" for al-Qaeda and the Taleban. | The US and Nato say the border region has become a "safe haven" for al-Qaeda and the Taleban. |