Militants Kill at Least 36 in Pakistan Attacks

Hundreds of militants from Afghanistan have attacked Pakistani checkpoints on the Afghan border, killing 36 security personnel.

Pakistani officials say 26 paramilitary soldiers and 10 border police were killed in the fighting Saturday, along with at least nine insurgents.

Authorities say the attacks began in the village of Arandu in Pakistan's northwestern district of Chitral, near Afghanistan's Nuristan province.  Militants then attacked more locations near the border.  The Pakistani military says it sent in reinforcements to drive back the militants.    

Cross-border raids have raised tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months, as the two countries battle protracted insurgencies by the Taliban and al-Qaida-linked insurgents.

The United States has increased pressure on Pakistan to take more decisive steps against militants since U.S. Navy special operations forces found and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad in May. (VOA News)