Many killed near Pakistani border

There has been an upsurge of fighting in the area since July

Fierce fighting between Pakistani troops and pro-Taleban militants fighting near the Afghan border has left dozens dead, both sides say.

The army says it has killed up to 70 militants. The rebels say twice that number of troops are dead. Neither claim can be independently verified.

Local officials confirmed 10 soldiers and eight rebels dead. Villagers say an army camp for 90 troops is destroyed.

The US says Pakistan's border areas are a safe haven for Taleban and al-Qaeda.

Meanwhile in a separate incident, at least 10 soldiers have been killed in a suspected bomb explosion at an army garrison in North West Frontier Province.

The military has not confirmed reports that it was a suicide bombing and says it is still gathering details about casualties from the blast in the Tarbela area.

Violence has soared in Pakistan, mainly in the north-west, since troops were sent in to oust radical Islamists from Islamabad's Red Mosque in July.

US visit

The latest fighting has taken place around Nawazkot just inside the border of the South Waziristan tribal area.

The Nawazkot area is close to Ramzak, an important military town across the border in North Waziristan.

The militants are reported to have attacked a military post manned by 16 soldiers, sparking a battle in which the military called in army helicopter gunships.

"There were repeated attacks, which were repelled," military spokesman Gen Waheed Arshad told the Associated Press news agency.

He said local sources were reporting at least 30 militants killed. Two soldiers had died in the fighting and eight were wounded, he added.

Local officials admit the military has suffered heavy losses during the attacks. They say most of the soldiers were killed in rocket attacks on a school where they were based.

One local official confirmed to the BBC early on Friday that at least 10 soldiers had been killed, and nine injured. He said eight pro-Taleban militants had also died.

The militants deny any casualties in the clashes, and claim to have killed 150 soldiers.

The latest fighting coincides with a visit to Pakistan by the American deputy secretary of state, John Negroponte.

The United States is pressing Pakistan to take stronger action against Taleban and al-Qaeda militants operating from its border areas.

On Wednesday, Mr Negroponte praised Pakistan for "more than doing its share in the war against terror".

Kidnapping spree

There has been a spate of kidnappings in and around the tribal areas in recent weeks.

Scores of soldiers abducted a fortnight ago are still being held in South Waziristan. The rebels say they are holding about 300 troops.

On Wednesday, 12 more soldiers were abducted outside the town of Bannu, just over the border from North Waziristan in North West Frontier Province.

The militants have demanded the release of a number of prisoners and an end to military deployment in their area.

Last month, militants beheaded a kidnapped soldier and videotaped the killing.

Correspondents say that the kidnapping of so many soldiers, apparently without a fight, has been a major embarrassment for the authorities.