Ead comes early

ISPR admits 18 troops killed in Shawal

Tribal elder hopes captive soldiers' release likely today

Reuters

MIRANSHAH: The militants have killed 18 Pakistani soldiers in North Waziristan tribal region, intelligence officials said on Tuesday.

The soldiers, including commandos, were killed on Sunday night in the same area near the Afghan border where officials said 16 militants were killed in fighting that began when militants attacked a security post late that day.

"Villagers found the bodies of the slain soldiers and reported it to army. Most of them were shot dead. Some of them had their throats cut," an intelligence official told Reuters. Military spokesman Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad said 15 soldiers were killed in the fighting that began late on Sunday and continued on Monday.