25 Militants, 4 Pakistani Soldiers Dead in Clashes

Pakistan's military says it has launched a combined air and ground operation in a volatile tribal area near the Afghan border that has left 25 militants and four soldiers dead.

The army says eight soldiers also were wounded in Sunday's offensive in the Mohmand tribal area. It said in a statement that the operation successfully secured a mountaintop that had been used by militants as a stronghold.

The operation started with airstrikes against militant bunkers on the mountain and was followed by the deployment of ground troops.

Mohmand is one of several tribal areas where the Pakistani military has launched offensives against a homegrown Taliban insurgency that has declared war against the state.