Three people were killed and four wounded in a shootout between troops and al Qaeda-linked militants in the tribal area near the Afghan border, officials and residents said on Saturday.
The shootout began late on Friday after militants attacked a paramilitary fort with rockets and mortars in Khaisor, a village about 25 kilometres Northeast of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal region.
"A few rockets and mortars were fired by militants in the Tiarza area on Friday after which the security forces responded appropriately," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told AFP.
There were no military casualties in the exchange of fire near tribal South Waziristan's main town Wana, Sultan said.
Residents said three civilians were killed and four were wounded in the crossfire. Intelligence officials said the casualties were caused by the militants' fire.
Meanwhile, in the neighbouring North Waziristan district three rockets exploded near a cadet college in Razmak, some 75 kilometres (46 miles) south of main town Miran Shah, prompting security forces to return fire.
"Three rockets fired by militants hiding in the nearby hills exploded near cadet college Razmak late Friday night," local administrator Khaista Rehman said.
There were no casualties or damage due to explosions but it panicked the students living at the college hostel, he said.
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