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Pakistan Clash Kills 6 Soldiers, 20 Militants


Pakistani officials say six soldiers and at least 20 militants have been killed in a clash in the country's northwest, along the border with Afghanistan.

The military says up to 100 militants armed with guns, rockets and suicide vehicles attacked a security checkpoint in the Bara area of the Khyber tribal region early Wednesday. Troops retaliated and destroyed the vehicles that were rigged with explosives.

At least 15 soldiers and 30 militants were wounded in the fighting.

Elsewhere in the northwest, Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike killed at least six militants near the town of Miranshah, in the North Waziristan tribal region early Wednesday.

Officials say a U.S. drone fired three missiles at a compound owned by a local tribesman and used by militants.

In recent months, the United States has increased missile attacks carried out by pilot-less drones, which target suspected al-Qaida and Taliban militant hide-outs in Pakistan's northwest.

The Pakistani military is also carrying out operations against militants in the region. Last week, about 100 militants were killed in the Orakzai tribal area.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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