Islamabad, Nov 9 (IANS) At least eight militants and four soldiers were killed in fighting in the South Waziristan region of Pakistan, the army said Monday.
The fighting started when the militants fired rockets at a security check post in Makeen, one of the Taliban strongholds in the region, Xinhua reported.

In the past 24 hours till Monday evening, at least eight militants and four soldiers were killed in the area, the Inter Services Public Relations said in a statement. One soldier was injured.

Currently, search operations are underway in Bangal Khel, Totai Langar Khel and Kanigurm areas. The army also destroyed a hideout of militant commander Mumtaz Burki.

In a separate incident, the security forces have captured two militants near Mingora in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Some 54,900 families, who have been displaced in the military operation in South Waziristan, have registered for government aid, GEO TV reported.