WANA, July 1: Security forces and militants exchanged fire close to the Pakistan-Afghan border in the rugged South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday. There were no reports of any casualties on either side, official and tribal sources said.

The fighting began when militants attacked a security force checkpoint in Khamrang near Shkai, about 28 kilometres to the west of the regional headquarters. Both sides were reported to have used heavy weapons in the clash that lasted three hours.

Khamrang, a thickly-forested area close to the Shawal Mountain Range on the Afghan border, is widely seen as the new hideout of foreign militants. Hundreds of foreign militants are believed to have fled to the mountainous area following a military operation in their former stronghold of Shakai last month.

Meanwhile, Ahmadzai Wazir tribesmen are meeting yet again for another grand jirga in Shulam near Wana to discuss a 10-day deadline for them to hand over wanted local militants Maulvi Abbas and Javed Karmazkhel.

The deadline set by the administration in Wana expires on July 10. Maulavi Abbas has been accused of sheltering foreign militants, mainly Arabs of Middle Eastern origin, while Javed is a local tribesman associated with the Taliban.