KHAR: Militants crossed over from Afghanistan and shot dead an anti-Taliban tribal elder and his son in the Bajaur tribal region on Wednesday, a Pakistani official said.

Tariq Khan said Afsar Khan and his son Sher Alam were standing guard at a border post manned by members of a citizens' militia in the tribal region when around 15 insurgents attacked them.

Police official Fazal Rabbi said Afsar Khan had been among volunteers who had burned the homes of a militant faction some two months ago.

The Pakistani army has fought militants in the tribal belt for years, but militants still mount attacks there.

In recent months, several of the attacks have originated from across the porous border in Afghanistan.