Pakistani officials say at least nine soldiers and 30 Taliban militants were killed in a fierce battle today in the country's northwestern Orakzai region.
The battle was one of the deadliest during the military's two-month antimilitant offensive in the region.
The semi-autonomous tribal area became the focus of a recent military drive against militants who reportedly moved into the region after being uprooted from their strongholds near the Afghan border in offensives over the past year.
Compiled from agency reports
The battle was one of the deadliest during the military's two-month antimilitant offensive in the region.
The semi-autonomous tribal area became the focus of a recent military drive against militants who reportedly moved into the region after being uprooted from their strongholds near the Afghan border in offensives over the past year.
Compiled from agency reports