Soldiers, Militants Killed in Pakistan's Border Regions

FILE - Pakistani soldiers are seen in the country's Khyber tribal region.

Pakistani military officials say two soldiers and 17 militants were killed in clashes near the Afghanistan border.

The military said the soldiers came under fire in North Waziristan late Sunday. Four militants and two soldiers were killed during the intense exchange of fire.

Earlier Sunday, army officials said 13 militants were killed in airstrikes in the nearby Khyber tribal region. They said the dead included an "important terrorist commander known for training suicide bombers."

On Saturday, Pakistani officials said at least 17 militants were killed in a failed raid on a military checkpoint in the Khyber region.

The feared Haqqani Network of Afghan insurgents has long used North Waziristan for staging cross-border attacks on coalition forces.