Border post clash kills 18 militants, eight soldiers

At least 18 militants and eight soldiers were killed Friday after dozens of suspected Taliban raided a border post in north-western tribal region along the Afghan border, officials said. The incident occurred when rebels attacked Shaidano post in Kurrum, one of seven tribal districts where militants linked with the al Qaeda terrorist network are active.
The fighting that followed the pre-dawn attack continued for more than an hour, said Rehman Khan, a local security official. "Our forces killed at least 18 attackers but we also suffered eight deaths of our soldiers," Khan said. "There are reports that the Taliban have kidnapped some soldiers and we are trying to confirm that." He said five soldiers were injured in the attack. An intelligence official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said it was not clear whether the militants had come from the Kurram tribal district or the neighbouring Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Khost.