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Militants attack security forces in Pak, 9 soldiers killed

CIA-operated drones routinely launch strikes in North Waziristan despite strong opposition from Pakistan.

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Nine soldiers and three pro-Taliban fighters were killed in a clash that erupted when militants attacked a security forces convoy in North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan on Sunday, the military said.

The militants fired rockets at the convoy of the Frontier Constabulary, triggering an exchange of fire near Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan Agency, that lasted nearly two hours.

Gunship helicopters later shelled militant positions, journalists in the region said.

A statement issued by the military said nine soldiers were killed in the clash.

Reports from Miranshah said at least three militants were killed while the military statement said retaliatory action by the troops had resulted in "heavy casualties" among the rebels.

Injured troops were airlifted to a military hospital in Bannu city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, the local journalists said.

The military statement said that a security forces picket in Miranshah had been fired on by militants for the past few days.

"Today during the convoy's movement, the terrorists engaged the picket and an exchange of fire took place between the two sides," the statement added.

"In the intense gun battle, the compounds, from where the terrorists fired, were destroyed and heavy casualties were inflicted on them. Exact number of their casualties was not known," the statement said.

The clash occurred a day after a US drone strike in the same region killed 10 militants.

A shell hit a vehicle carrying militants, killing three of them, a journalist from the region said.

Another shell landed on a mosque at Zafar Town area of the bazar in Miranshah, injuring around 20 people, he said.

Announcements made on the mosque’s loudspeaker asked people to help in shifting the injured to hospital. An emergency was declared in the main hospital of the area.

Local residents said shells also hit houses and vehicles, causing fires.

Security forces had earlier imposed curfew in North Waziristan.

Authorities usually clamp curfew every Sunday to facilitate the movement of troops in the region.

The residents said some people had fled to other places as there had been no let-up in the exchange of fire.

It was not clear which militant faction was involved in the fighting.

The main Taliban faction in North Waziristan, which is led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur, had struck a peace deal with the security forces in 2007 and both sides have not been attacking each other since then.

A reporter in Miranshah said on phone that Bahadar’s group had denied involvement in the violence.

Bahadar’s group is also not part of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

US and Afghan officials have described North Waziristan as the main stronghold of al-Qaeda and Taliban elements, including the Haqqani network that launched cross-border attacks against foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been under growing US pressure to launch a military operation in the region but no decision has been taken as yet.

CIA-operated drones routinely launch strikes in North Waziristan despite strong opposition from Pakistan.

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