Three soldiers and 19 militants killed in Pak

At least 19 militants and three soldiers, including an officer, were killed in an operation by Pakistani security forces to regain control of strategic heights in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan, the military said today.
Security forces launched an operation in Para Chamkani area of Kurram Agency and Maidan in Khyber Agency last night.
Despite "tough resistance" from pro-Taliban militants, security forces established a foothold on key heights in Kurram Agency and captured Haider Kandao in Khyber Agency.
"During exchange of fire, 19 terrorists were killed while 12 got injured. Three soldiers, including an officer, also embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and three were injured," the military said in a statement.

The dominating heights in the area have been cleared or occupied by security forces.
Local residents extended support to the security forces and formed village defence committees to protect their areas against any counter-attack by militants, the military said.

The death toll could not be independently verified as journalists are barred from reporting from the tribal belt.
The latest fighting came in the wake of an offensive in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency, where security forces have targeted the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam.
The main NATO supply line to Afghanistan passes through Khyber Agency.
Kurram Agency has been hit by sectarian violence between rival Shia and Sunni tribesmen over the past few years.