Seven troops, 37 militants killed in Waziristan: army

Seven paramilitary troops and at least 37 militants were killed in clashes on Tuesday in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, the army said.

Five of the soldiers and all of the militants were killed after insurgents attacked a military fort at Ladha in South Waziristan before dawn, chief military spokesman Athar Abbas told AFP.

“Through air intercepts and our sources we have confirmation now that at least 37 militants were killed when forces retaliated the attack in Ladha,” Abbas said.

He had earlier confirmed the five deaths and seven wounded soldiers but had said only that the insurgents suffered heavy casualties.

In a separate incident in the neighbouring region of North Waziristan, two security personnel were killed and six others were injured when militants fired rockets at a military fort in Razmak, Abbas said.