Pakistan clashes kill at least 20

Updated 09.24 Wed Oct 22 2008

Keywords: Islamic, soldiers, clashes, fighting, Islamic militants, Pakistan

At least 15 paramilitary soldiers and five Islamic militants have been killed during clashes in Pakistan's northwestern Swat Valley.

On Tuesday, fighting broke out in Kabal area, a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban fighters, after a roadside bomb blast aimed at a paramilitary convoy.

Police officer Noor Rehman said: "After the exchange of fire that lasted for several hours, more than 20 troops went missing but today we found 15 dead bodies at the site."

Six troops are still missing, he said.

Security forces have been fighting loyalists of pro-Taliban cleric Mullah Fazlullah, who has led a violent campaign to impose Taliban-style law in Swat, a mountain valley once popular with tourists.

In August, Pakistan launched a military offensive against militants in the nearby Bajaur tribal region, bordering Afghanistan.