Troops, militants killed in attacks in Pakistan

Peshawar: Official says at least 40 militants were killed and scores of others wounded as security forces repulsed a massive attack by about 600 fighters in northwestern Pakistan. Six security troops were also killed and seven others wounded in the pre-dawn attack in Mohmand agency.

A military official, who asked not to be named, said groups of insurgents attacked the Frontier Corps' Mohammad Ghat camp at around 2:00 am on Sunday with mortars and rockets, and then closed in to open small weapons fire on a checkpoint near the camp.

He said the attackers were eventually driven off but scattered skirmishes continued into Sunday.

Mohmand agency lies along the volatile Afghan border and the military official said the bulk of the militants crossed over from Afghanistan and later joined up with Pakistani allies. He said at least 40 militants were killed in the fighting.