Fresh clashes in Bajaur kill 3 soldiers, 11 militants

Officials say several soldiers were also missing in the clashes.

PESHAWAR: Fresh clashes in the Bajaur district on Tuesday left three soldiers and 11 militants dead, security officials said.

The latest fighting occurred as part of a Pakistan army operation to repel Taliban militants who had crossed over from Kunar province in Afghanistan early Friday and occupied the village of Batwar in the district.

Officials said several soldiers were also missing in the clashes.

The fighting has so far left 50 dead including 31 militants, three soldiers and two members of a government backed peace committee who were killed on Monday.

"During the ongoing clashes in the Batwar border area of Bajaur, 11 militants were killed today while several were injured," a senior security official based in the region's main city of Peshawar told AFP.

"Three security personal were also killed while some are missing," he said.

Pakistani troops arrested eight militants while "the dead bodies of some militants are in the custody of security forces," he added.

Another government official from Khar, the main town of the Bajaur tribal district, confirmed the latest fighting and new death toll. He requested anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media.

The area is cut off to journalists and aid workers and it was not possible to confirm the death toll independently.