PARACHINAR, Pakistan (AP) — Clashes between Pakistani security forces and militants near the Afghan border have left two troops and 22 insurgents dead.
Government officials Mohammad Yasin and Mohammad Naseem say militants ambushed troops at checkpoints in the Orakzai and Kurram tribal regions, sparking Saturday’s gunbattles.
Many militants fleeing a Pakistani military offensive in the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan have ended up in those areas.
Washington has welcomed the military campaign and also wants the Pakistani army to target the Taliban blamed for violence across the border in Afghanistan. The Pakistani army has said it is too taxed to launch another operation right now.
