11 Pakistani soldiers, 27 militants killed in clashes

About 150 Taliban militants today attacked five security posts in the restive Mohmand tribal region of northwest Pakistan, triggering clashes that killed 11 soldiers and 27 rebels, a official said.

Mohmand Agency's political agent Amjad Ali Khan said 11 soldiers were killed in gun battles.

Security officials said 27 militants were killed as troops repulsed the attacks.

However, a spokesperson for the paramilitary frontier corps told Press Trust of India that three soldiers died in the clashes.

"Twelve soldiers were wounded in the fighting," he said.

About 150 militants attacked the frontier corps check posts in a region near the border with Afghanistan at 1:15am.

"The militants ran away, leaving behind the bodies of several rebels, after the attacks were repulsed," the spokesperson said.

The Pakistan Army conducted several offensives against Taliban in Mohmand Agency though today's attack showed that they retain the ability to mount strikes on the security forces.

The region is also used by militants to cross over to Afghanistan, where they attack US and allied forces.

On December 6, nearly 50 people were killed and over 100 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers struck a government compound in Ghalanai, the headquarters of Mohmand Agency.