Islamabad: Eight Pakistani soldiers and 12 militants were killed in fighting that erupted after a large group of pro-Taliban rebels attacked a security check post in South Waziristan tribal region before dawn on Thursday, officials said.
The militants, armed with rocket launchers and heavy weapons, attacked the check post in the volatile Waziristan region, along the Afghan border, triggering a firefight which lasted for more than three hours.
Security officials confirmed the casualties.
Reports said over 100 militants were involved in the attack but this could not independently be confirmed.
Earlier this month, al-Qaeda-linked terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri was reportedly killed in a US drone strike in South Waziristan.
Militants have vowed to avenge his killing as well as the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, who was killed in a US raid in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2.