20 militants killed in NW Pakistan

At least 20 militants were killed in clashes with the security forces in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Kurram Agency which borders the eastern side of Afghanistan on Wednesday, reported local media. Local Urdu TV channel Duniya quoted anonymous security officials as saying that one troop was also killed and another was three injured in the clashes. The clashes broke out when a group of militants in unknown number launched an attack on an army checkpost in the Murghan area of east Kurram Agency, said the report, adding that the army fought back in retaliation with the help of gunship helicopters. Four militant hideouts were also destroyed in the fight, it said. The report did not say which group these militants belonged to. On Tuesday, in the neighboring tribal area of Orakzai, 16 militants were killed and 12 others were injured in an operation launched by the Pakistani army in the Dabori area, in which six militant hideouts were also destroyed.