Updated

Pakistan's military says its soldiers have killed at least 15 militants in a northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

An army statement says three soldiers were wounded in Saturday's battle in the Tirrah valley of the Khyber region. It says ground forces launched the attack after spotting a group of militants there.

The information could not be immediately corroborated. Pakistan bars journalists from working in its tribal regions.

Pakistan is trying to clear its tribal regions of militants, who use the mountainous area to launch attacks on security forces in both countries.

Pakistan's army says it has killed more than 1,200 militants since launching an operation on June 15 in North Waziristan, another rugged tribal region along the border. Authorities say militants moved to the Khyber tribal region from North Waziristan.