They Shoot Horses in Pakistan!

At least 5 Pakistani troops and about 25 pro-Taliban militants have been killed in fierce clashes at a tribal area along side the Afghan border, officials say. The clashes took place in the Loi Sum area in Bajaur, which has seen missile attacks in the past.

BBC says this is the first time troops have fought militants there on the ground. Talks between Pakistan's new government and Taliban leaders broke down in June and security has deteriorated sharply in recent week along the frontier.

In other violence in the north-west, suspected militants burnt down a girls' college and a school in Swat district, police said. Pakistani officials say the fighting started after more than 200 troops moved to reoccupy a key border post abandoned several months ago following frequent Taliban attacks.