8 Pak security personnel, 18 militants killed in tribal region

In a pre-dawn strike, Taliban militants today attacked a strategic check post in Pakistan's restive tribal belt along the Afghan border, triggering fierce clashes in which at least eight security personnel and 18 terrorists were killed.

Militants also abducted five security personnel during the attack on the check post in Shidano Dand area of Kurram tribal region, officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels.

The attack triggered fierce clashes in which eight soldiers and 18 militants were killed, they said.

There was no official word on the incident.

Fourteen soldiers and over 80 militants were recently killed in a fighting in Jogi area of Kurram tribal agency, where the Taliban had targeted soldiers holding a strategic mountain.

Troops recently took control of the mountain after flushing militants out of the area.

Combat jets carried out air strikes in the region after the Taliban killed several soldiers in attacks.

The Pakistan army and air force have been conducting operations against the Taliban in Kurram since the beginning of the year.

Besides the activities of the Taliban, Kurram has been affected by clashes between Shia and Sunni tribesmen over the past four years. Hundreds of people have died in the fighting between the rival tribesmen.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and two others injuries in a blast in Bara area of Khyber tribal agency today, local media reported.