ISLAMABAD: Six militants and two soldiers were today killed in a fierce gunbattle during a search operation in a northwestern Pakistani tribal district bordering Afghanistan, the Army said.
Security forces were carrying out an operation in the Ladha region of South Waziristan district on a tip-off about the presence of militants in the area when the gunbattle took place, they said in a statement.
"Six rebels were killed including a 'high-value target' identified as 'Nanakar' who was involved in killing of local people," the statement said, adding that two soldiers were also killed in the clash.
Army said that suspected terrorists had been in contact with a militant network in Afghanistan's Paktika province.
The security forces also recovered weapons, ammunition and communication equipment from them.
The incident happened on a day when Tehreek-i-Taliban announced the appointment of Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud as their new chief after Mullah Fazlullah was killed in a drone attack in Afghanistan's Kunar province.
In a separate incident, at least six people, including three policemen, were injured in a bombing attack in Naseerabad area of Balochistan province in the south-west of Pakistan.
The bomb was planted on the roadside and targeted a police vehicle, according to police sources.
The US has repeatedly accused Pakistan of allowing the tribal areas to harbour militants fighting in Afghanistan -- an allegation Islamabad has consistently denied.