Peshawar: At least four soldiers and nine militants were killed after insurgents attacked a security post in Pakistan's northwestern restive tribal region near the Afghan border where a massive army operation is underway against the Taliban.
Militants attacked the security outpost in South Waziristan yesterday which led to a clash, army said.
"At least nine terrorists were killed in a cordon and search operation. Four soldiers also embraced shahadat (martyrdom)," it said in a statement.
Army said killing of the soldiers forced the army to retaliate.
The army also launched a search operation in the area.
South Waziristan was cleared in a military operation in 2009 but rebels are still active in its border areas.
After the operation in neighbouring North Waziristan, the militants are hard-pressed from the two sides.
Army has also moved ahead to clear the Shawal valley which overlaps both South and North Waziristan and links these two districts to Afghanistan.
More than 2,800 militants have been killed since the launch of the operation last June.
