At least 16 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in an attack by militants near the Afghan border, officials say.

The ambush happened in the tribal area of North Waziristan about 25km (15 miles) from the town of Miranshah.

Reports speak of heavy fighting between troops and militants. There have been a spate of attacks since soldiers stormed a radical mosque in Islamabad.

The move prompted militants along the border to scrap controversial peace accords with the government.

A military spokesman said that in addition to the soldiers killed, another 13 had been injured in the ambush in the Lwara Mundi area of North Waziristan.

The local administration gave similar casualty figures.

Pro-Taleban militants are said to have attacked the soldiers' convoy with guns and rockets. Military officials said a number of militants had also been killed, but gave no number of dead.

The latest deadly attack followed a suicide bombing in the area on Tuesday that killed three soldiers and a civilian.

Three suicide blasts over the weekend left more than 70 dead near the border.

On Tuesday evening, a bomb killed at least 15 people at a lawyers rally in the capital, Islamabad. It is not clear who was behind that attack.

PHOTO CAPTION

Pakistani soldiers in Miranshah. (AFP)

BBC