Clashes kill 6 soldiers, 8 militants in N. Pakistan

At least six soldiers of Pakistan army and eight militants were killed during clashes in PakistanÂ's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan, said the military on Saturday. According to a press release by Pakistan militaryÂ's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), six personnel of Pakistan Army including a senior officer "embraced martyrdom" during the intense exchange of fire in North Waziristan tribal district of KPK. The security forces killed six militants in Spinwam area of North Waziristan. The military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ali Shoukat, who was leading his troops from the front, "fought gallantly and embraced martyrdom along with his five men," the military said. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies conducted a joint intelligence-based operation in Charbagh area of Swat district in KPK killing two militants. The killed militants were involved in numerous terrorist activities. They had set off explosives targeting police offciers escorting the conv oy of foreign dignitaries in Swat last month. "A sanitization operation" is being conducted to eliminate any other militant in the area, said ISPR. President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has appreciated security forces' successful operation against terrorists in North Waziristan. Source: Kuwait News Agency