Pakistan Army major killed in gun battle

A major of the Pakistani Army and three terrorists were killed in a gun battle that erupted when heavily armed militants attacked an army vehicle in the country's restive northwest today.
The major died in the exchange of fire, the military's media arm said.
Three terrorists were killed in retaliatory firing, it said in a statement.
The attack came even as the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan said it was serious about holding peace talks with the government.
State negotiators yesterday suspended a fledgling peace process with the Taliban after a militant faction said it had executed 23 paramilitary troops taken hostage in 2010.