The Pakistani army says it has recovered the bodies of 13 paramilitary soldiers who were kidnapped by militants near the northwestern city of Peshawar.
The army says the soldiers were abducted during fierce fighting last week when troops tried to clear militants from a strategic Kohat tunnel in the Darra Adam Khel region. The army says 50 militants also died in the fighting.
Meanwhile in Peshawar, police say an explosion Wednesday killed three suspected militants in a house where they were likely making bombs.
Authorities detained the owner of the house following the blast. Officials say they suspect the men were preparing for suicide attacks when the explosives went off prematurely.
Also Wednesday, Pakistani officials say militants fired rockets on a military outpost in North Waziristan, triggering a gun battle that killed two members of the security forces.
Violence has spread in Pakistan's tribal area near the Afghan border in recent months. The region is believed to be a sanctuary for al-Qaida and Taliban militants.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
