12 militants killed in drone strike, clashes in Pakistan

Violence rocked Pakistan's restive northwestern region killing 12 militants, including six in a US drone attack which targeted their vehicle.

The drone unleashed four missiles at a vehicle in the lawless North Waziristan tribal region, an area which has witnessed unprecedented wave of UAV strikes this year killing all the six militants travelling in it.

In a ramped up US campaign in the region to take out al-Qaeda, Taliban and Haqqani network fighters, 110 such missile strikes have been launched killing more than 100 militants in the area this year.

As the US continue to target North Waziristan, Pakistani forces stepped up their anti-militancy campaign in other tribal areas bordering Afghanistan killing six militants, including a commander in three separate gun battles in the restive Swat region, officials said.

They said three paramilitary troops were injured.

Three of the six dead rebels had been released from detention three days ago after they had been cleared by joint investigations teams of law enforcement agencies.

The commander of an extremist group was killed in a skirmish with security forces in Shamozai area of Swat district. Two militants - Zarqavi and Noor-ul-Hadi - were gunned down in an exchange of fire in Kalam area.

The rebels opened fire when they were challenged by troops at a check point. Two troopers were injured in the shootout. Both militants had been freed from detention three days ago.

In another gun battle, three militants were shot dead after they attacked a military convoy at Peochar valley in Matta sub-division.

One of the rebels was identified as Waqar, who too was released from detention three days ago.

One trooper was injured in the incident.

In the drone strike missiles hit the vehicle in Mir Ali sub-division, 25 km east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan Agency.

Drone strikes are credited with killing some top insurgents but rights groups have said the attacks have also claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including women and children.