MIRAMSHAH/KHAR, Sept 9: At least 10 militants were killed and seven security personnel were injured in night-long clashes between security forces and militants in the Shawal area of North Waziristan Agency, officials said on Sunday.

The clashes started at 8pm following an attack on the Toot Narai base camp of security forces, which continued till 10am on Sunday.

No independent sources were available to confirm the casualties.

Witnesses said that the forces also called in helicopter gunships which pounded suspected locations.

Residents said that the militants mounted attacks on four other check posts, including Sarbandki, Banda, Thall and Gora Qabristan. The clashes continued till the filing of this report.

The security forces fired artillery from the Miramshah fort and targeted suspected locations in the area.

In the Bajaur tribal agency, two personnel of Levies Force were kidnapped and a check post was destroyed near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on the night between Saturday and Sunday.

Officials said sepoy Mohibullah and sepoy Hayatullah were taken away when armed men attacked the check post in the Kotki Chaharmang area. Later, the attackers blew up the check post.

No group has owned responsibility for the kidnapping of two officials and destroying the check post.

The political authorities launched investigation into the kidnapping and firing incidents.

On Friday night, unidentified assailants attacked two check posts with rockets which left two levies personnel injured.

The local Taliban during talks with the tribal elders and clerics had denied having any hand in attacks on security forces and government installations in the Bajaur Agency.

A jirga, comprising tribal elders and maliks, also initiated efforts to ensure safe release of the two personnel.