About 150 Taliban fighters armed with rocket launchers and grenades have attacked a Pakistani checkpoint in South Waziristan, in a gunbattle that last for several hours.
The BBC reports that the attack took place near the town of Makeen near the Afghan border.
The area has seen a surge in missile strikes by US drone planes in recent days in which dozens of militants have been killed.
Pakistani officials said at least eight soldiers had been killed while at least 12 rebel fighters were reported to have died.
