Pakistan clashes leave 175 dead

Pakistani helicopter gunships and troops have killed 130 militants in some of the heaviest-ever clashes near the Afghan border, while 45 soldiers have also died, the army said Monday.

The fighting raged throughout Sunday and Monday in the troubled tribal region of North Waziristan, which the United States has pinpointed as the new breeding ground for Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda extremist network.

"The forces retaliated and killed 130 militants in air strikes and ground attacks. Forty-five security personnel were also martyred." Arshad said contact had been established with a group of around 50 soldiers reported missing earlier and only 10 or 12 had not been accounted for, but it was not clear if any of those had been killed.

Miranshah, Tuesday, AFP