PARACHINAR, Feb 3: Eight paramilitary soldiers were killed and three others injured when militants attacked a checkpost in Kurram lower tehsil on Friday.

Officials claimed that 24 attackers were killed when troops fired back.

But the official claim could not be verified from independent sources. Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to AFP, four soldiers were kidnapped by the assailants.

The Nawab Shaheed post near the Afghan border was attacked with rockets, grenades and automatic weapons.

A heavy exchange of fire between troops and militants continued for several hours.

Security forcers have been fighting against various militant groups in the central tehsil of Kurram since August 2011.

The military operation has caused displacement of about 70,000 people from the region. The deceased soldiers were identified as Mohammad Hussain Mohmand, Sanaullah Khattak, Nadir Khan, Irfan, Jannat Noor, Rahim Gul, Saeedur Rehman and Rehmat Khan. Their bodies were taken to the garrison in Thall.

According to TTP spokesman, Ihsanullah Ihsan 12 soldiers were killed and four were captured and taken to North Waziristan.

He claimed that TTP fighters still controlled Jogi area in Kurram.

Meanwhile, clashes also took place between security forces and militants in the upper tehsil of Orakzai Agency.

Eight militants were killed and one soldier was injured in an exchange of fire.