Nine soldiers, 10 militants killed in clashes

At least nine soldiers and 10 militants were killed in overnight clashes in South Waziristan, officials said on Wednesday. The fighting started when suspected Taliban rebels attacked an army post in the Badar area of South Waziristan. "We killed 10 militants but also lost nine soldiers in the fight," a security official said on condition of anonymity.
He said the army launched a counter-offensive in the treacherous mountainous region. South Waziristan is one of seven districts where rebels with links to al Qaeda are active. The district is considered a stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The number of attacks on security forces in the region has risen amid reports of a possible military operation in neighbouring North Waziristan. A security official said three soldiers and nine militants were killed in clashes late Tuesday in the Bajaur district.