Pakistan border clash 'kills 46'

Pakistani soldiers repulsed an attack by 600 fighters in a tribal area near the Afghan border, killing at least 40 militants, military officials say.

Six security forces were also killed and seven wounded in the pre-dawn raid in Mohmand, the officials said.

Hundreds of insurgent fighters, many from Afghanistan, attacked a military camp and checkpoint near the border.

The officials said that although the main attack was beaten off, there had been a series of skirmishes afterwards.

Pakistan has deployed tens of thousands of troops to police its tribal regions, but Western and Afghan officials say that has not deterred militants.

Last week, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said during a visit to Kabul by his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari that the two countries had a "new relationship" and determination to defeat terrorism and extremism.

Mr Karzai had previously accused Islamabad of not doing enough to shut down militant "sanctuaries" in the tribal areas and stop insurgents from crossing into Afghanistan.

Pakistan rejected those accusations, pointing to a major offensive against militants in the Bajaur region, which borders Mohmand. The military says more than 1,500 rebels have been killed there since August.