PARACHINAR, Jan 31: At least 35 militants and eight security personnel were killed in a clash in Kurram Agency on Tuesday.

Thirty militants and 15 security personnel were injured.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations, the clash followed an attack on a checkpost in Jogi village in the Mamozai area of central Kurram Agency.

The attack was repulsed after an intense gunbattle, the ISPR said.

The security personnel who were killed were identified as Omar Daraz, Zubair, Sadiq, Saleem, Ayub, Ameer, Asfandyar and Sohail.

The injured were taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Thall in the adjoining Hangu district. An army officer, Major Musawwar, is among the injured.

The ISPR said troops had gained control over the Jogi area last week and established the post to check movement of militants from Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency to Kurram and North Waziristan.

AP adds: The battle first started a week ago when troops seized the top of Jogi mountain in the Kurram tribal area from militants, sparking clashes that killed six soldiers and 20 insurgents, said Wajid Khan, a local government official.

The militants retaliated on Tuesday by attacking the soldiers who were trying to hold the location, touching off another round of fighting that killed 10 troops and more than 30 insurgents, said Mr Khan.