25 Pakistan troops killed in Taliban attack

Taliban militants killed at least 25 Pakistani paramilitary troops in a cross-border attack by hundreds of fighters on Saturday, the military said. The raid took place in the northwestern district of Chitral, where 200-300 "terrorists" from across the border attacked seven paramilitary Frontier Corps checkposts early Saturday morning, the military said in a statement. The term "terrorists" is frequently used by the military for Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants. "At least 25 security forces personnel embraced shahadat (martyrdom) in the attack," the statement said, adding that the attack was launched "from across the border" in Kunar and Nuristan provinces of Afghanistan. The border posts were overrun by militants, but reinforcements have now been sent there, the statement added. "Own security personnel defended the posts by engaging the attackers and reportedly 20 terrorists were killed," it said.