21 Taliban militants killed in Pak

Two paramilitary personnel and 21 Taliban fighters were killed in fierce clashes that erupted when militants attacked security check posts at several places in the restive tribal belt of northwest Pakistan today, officials said.

Two personnel of the Frontier Corps were killed and seven others injured when the Taliban attacked four check posts at Shonkarai, Goraprai and Matai areas of Mohmand tribal region.

One paramilitary personnel also went missing during the clashes, officials said.

Communication with Frontier Corps troops deployed at Goraprai post was snapped and it is feared that the Taliban could have taken 20 security personnel hostage.

Frontier Corps troops manning the check posts gunned down seven Taliban fighters and injured 13 more in retaliatory firing.

Security forces also shelled Taliban positions from the Bhai Dag and Mommad Ghat camps.     

The clashes continued for several hours.

A Taliban spokesperson claimed responsibility for the simultaneous attacks on four checks posts in Mohmand Agency.

In Orakzai Agency, a group of militants attacked a security check post in Mashti Mela area.

The attack triggered a gun battle that left eight militants dead and two security personnel injured, officials said.

Another six militants were killed in a separate clash with security forces in Orakzai Agency, they said.

Over the past few days, the Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces in Orakzai Agency.

Today's clashes came a day after six soldiers and 40 militants were killed in a gun battle that followed an attack on a check post.

In a separate development, police in Hangu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province recovered a man who was abducted by unidentified persons, officials said.