Miranshah, Pakistan (ANTARA News/AFP) - Three Pakistani soldiers were killed and two others wounded Thursday by a landmine planted by militants in a restive area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

The soldiers were conducting a search operation in the Makeen area of the South Waziristan tribal district.

"Three soldiers were martyred and two others were wounded when a landmine planted by militants exploded," a senior security official told AFP.

A local intelligence official confirmed the incident and casualties.

Pakistan`s seven tribal districts bordering Afghanistan are rife with a homegrown insurgency, and are also strongholds of the Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaeda. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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