At least three soldiers and 24 militants were killed Friday in clashes in the northwestern tribal region of Mohmand. – AP Photo

PESHAWAR: The number of soldiers killed Friday when about 150 militants attacked five paramilitary checkpoints in the northwestern tribal region of Mohmand has risen to 11, a top administration official said.

At least 24 militants were also killed in the fighting near the Afghan border, the administrator of lawless Mohmand tribal region told reporters at a press conference in the main town, Ghalanai.

“About 150 Taliban militants attacked five Frontier Corps checkposts in Baidnami village near the border with Afghanistan,” a senior security official told AFP.

“The attack was repulsed leaving 24 militants dead, and three of our men (paramilitary soldiers) embraced martyrdom,” the official said.

Local administration officials in Ghalanai, the main town of Mohmand tribal district, and the paramilitary force confirmed the attack and casualties.

“Militants ran away, leaving behind dead bodies. Twelve soldiers were wounded in the fighting,” the official said.

In a telephone call to AFP Taliban spokesman for Mohmand district Sajjad Mohmand claimed his fighters had killed 12 soldiers and captured a checkpost.

“We have killed 12 soldiers and occupied a checkpost,” Mohmand said.

He also said two paramilitary soldiers had been captured but security officials rejected the claim, saying no one was missing.

Mohmand district has seen much of the violence linked to Taliban militants in northwestern Pakistan. On December 6, twin suicide bombings killed 43 people in Ghalanai, about 175 kilometres (110 miles) northwest of Islamabad.

Around 4,000 people have died in suicide and bomb attacks across Pakistan since government forces raided an extremist mosque in Islamabad in 2007. The attacks have been blamed on networks linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.