PESHAWAR: Eight soldiers were killed in northwest Pakistan, while seven policemen were briefly kidnapped in separate attacks, police and intelligence officials told AFP on Tuesday.

A Monday clash resulted in the deaths of “eight soldiers” and “nine militants” in the Tirah area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, an intelligence officer said on condition of anonymity.

The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility.

In a separate incident in the same province, seven police officers were kidnapped from a checkpoint.

They were released Tuesday, following negotiations between a jirga — or tribal council — and the militants.

“All the kidnapped policemen have been released following successful negotiations led by local elders with militants,” senior police official Muhammad Zia ud-Din told AFP.

He declined to provide further details.