At least eight paramilitary soldiers and a policeman were killed in militant violence in the restive Khyber tribal region of Pakistan, officials said today.
Unknown assailants ambushed the vehicles of the Frontier Corps force in Ghundai area of Jamrud sub division of the district near provincial capital Peshawar last night, they said.
A security official said that eight soldiers were killed and one injured.
There were reports that soldiers also killed four militants in the retaliatory fire but it was not confirmed.
Some media reports quoted local tribesmen as saying that the militants targeted a check post and not the vehicles but official sources said that patrolling vehicles were attacked.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban often targets the security forces in the Khyber region.
A policeman was also killed in a bomb blast that left three others wounded in Peshawar.
"The bomb exploded near a police van in Yakatoot neighbourhood at around 4:00 am killing a policeman and injuring three others," a senior police official said.
Pakistan launched a major military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region last month to flush out Taliban and other militants.
Intelligence agencies have already warned of reprisals by the militants.
