Pakistan says 2 soldiers killed in shootout with militants

ISLAMABAD – Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shootout during a raid on a militant hideout in a rugged area near the border with Afghanistan, the military said Sunday.

It said another five soldiers were wounded and nine suspected militants were killed in the raid, which took place late Saturday. It did not identify the militant group.

Several armed groups operate in mountainous areas along the border, including the Pakistani Taliban, which has carried out scores of attacks over the years against security forces and civilians.