3 Pakistani soldiers, 7 militants killed in clashes

Clashes in Pakistan's Bajaur tribal region left at least three soldiers and seven militants dead on Monday, security sources said.

A group of heavily armed militants, hiding in mountains, fired at the security forces during a search operation in Salarzai area bordering Afghanistan, they said.

The security forces launched a counter attack and killed seven militants, the security officials said.

Officials said that a captain was among the three security personnel killed in the attack. Two others were injured.

Bajaur had once been a stronghold of the Taliban militants and the security forces cleared most of the areas from the militants during the 2008 operation. However militants are believed to be hiding in some of the rugged mountains, carrying out attacks on the forces.

Officials said that most of the militants had fled to Afghanistan and now operated from the border region.

The latest clashes occurred at a time when the government has tightened up anti-terror drive following the Taliban attack on an army-run school that killed 140 children and 10 staff members on Dec. 16. Endi