Islamabad/Peshawar, Apr 23: At least seven Pakistani soldiers were killed today when the Taliban ambushed an army convoy in the troubled northwestern tribal region, where 16 militants were gunned down by security forces in a separate clash.
 The army convoy was attacked by the Taliban militants in Boya area of Datta Khel sub-division in North Waziristan tribal agency.
 Seven soldiers, including an officer and a junior commissioned officer, were killed in the attack, an army statement said.
 Sixteen soldiers were also injured and two of them are in a critical condition, the statement said.
 The army convoy was “carrying out a routine movement from Miranshah to Datta Khel” at the time of the ambush.
 In a separate development, 16 Taliban militants were killed and a security personnel was injured in a gun battle in Feroze Khel town of Orakzai tribal agency.
 The gun battle occurred as security forces advanced into militant strongholds.
 The militants are on the run and finding no place to hide, a security official told PTI.
 Troops had earlier yesterday gunned down 48 militants at three different places in Orakzai. Two security personnel had also died in the fighting.
 Security forces claim to hav e killed over 300 Taliban militants since an offensive was launched last month to flush the insurgents out of the region.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST