Pakistan's military said Sunday around 40 militants were killed after they launched counter offensive to repulse attacks by the militants in a tribal region.

The army confirmed that at least seven soldiers were killed and six others were injured when militants attacked three security check posts in the Muhmand tribal agency in Pakistan's northwest.

Local press reports quoted army officials as saying that some 600 militants launched attacks from three sides late Saturday night and used rockets to target a major camp of security forces in the area between the Muhmand and Bajaur tribal regions.

They said that several foreign militants joined Pakistani militants to organize the attacks.

The security forces returned artillery fire and exchange of fire continued for several hours.

Military helicopters were seen moving to the area to bring bodies and injured soldiers to Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province.

The Muhmand tribal agency borders the restive Bajaur tribal region and many Taliban militants moved to the Muhmand area from Bajaur due to major military offensive there.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2009)