TWO PAKISTANI PARAMILITARY TROOPERS AND A PRO-TALIBAN MILITANT WERE KILLED IN A SHOOTOUT WHILE A PRO-GOVERNMENT TRIBAL CHIEFTAIN WAS SHOT DEAD IN THE NORTH WAZIRISTAN REGION ON SUNDAY, OFFICIALS SAID, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE GUNFIGHT BROKE OUT SUNDAY AFTERNOON AFTER MILITANTS TRAVELLING IN A CAR OPENED FIRE ON TROOPERS WHEN THEY TRIED TO STOP THEM AT A CHECKPOST NEAR A SMALL VILLAGE. "OUR TWO SOLDIERS MARTYRED WHILE ONE MISCREANT WAS KILLED IN THE RETURN FIRE," A MILITARY OFFICIAL, WHO REQUESTED ANONYMITY, TOLD REUTERS. THE RUGGED WAZIRISTAN REGION, BORDERING AFGHANISTAN, HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF FIERCE BATTLES BETWEEN THE SECURITY FORCES AND ISLAMIST MILITANTS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. CLASHES HAVE INTENSIFIED IN NORTH WAZIRISTAN SINCE AN AIRSTRIKE ON AN AL QAEDA COMPOUND IN EARLY MARCH. ACCORDING TO MILITARY, OVER 300 MILITANTS, INCLUDING FOREIGNERS, HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THESE GUNFIGHTS.
