'Militants die' in Pakistan clash

'Militants die' in Pakistan clash 18 July, 2008: Pakistan's army says it has killed 10 pro-Taleban militants in a military operation near the Afghan border. Five soldiers have been wounded in the drive to clear insurgents from the north-western district of Hangu, spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said. The operation began after talks to secure the release of some 20 hostages seized by the militants collapsed. Pakistan is under increasing pressure from the US and Nato to crack down on militants based near the Afghan border. There has been tension in the Hangu area since the arrest of several militants some weeks ago. On Saturday the militants killed 15 tribal border police in an ambush in Zargari district. Maj Gen Abbas said troops backed by helicopter gunships had driven militants from the town of Zargari and were now conducting "mopping up" operations. He said many militants had fled to the nearby tribal district of Orakzai. Residents say artillery shelling and attacks by helicopter gunships began on Wednesday. On Thursday, a spokesman of the Orakzai Taleban, Maulvi Haider, told the BBC Urdu service that if the operation was not stopped, they would start beheading the hostages they hold. The Taleban claim to hold more than 50 hostages. The government has confirmed some officials are being held, but has not said how many. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says it is thought the Taleban seized at least 20 hostages.