The Pakistani military has killed six militants who attacked checkpoints along the border with Afghanistan, in Pakistan's northwest.

The Pakistani military has killed six militants who attacked checkpoints along the border with Afghanistan, in Pakistan's northwest.

Military officials said their forces returned fire on Tuesday (29/7) evening when a group of people - approximately 70 militants - attacking Dir district in the country.

In a statement, the Pakistani foreign ministry office asked Afghan authorities to step up efforts to stop firing and cross-border attacks.

Pakistan started land operation in June to combat militants in the North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistani allies, including America, has been urging the government for years to destroy Taliban strongholds in the region.

Afghanistan: Pakistani offensive against militants Not Effective

The Pakistani military last June launch ground offensive against militants in the tribal region of North Waziristan, near the Afghan border.

Afghan intelligence officials say the Pakistani military has not achieved significant progress in its offensive against the Haqqani network and other militants in the border between the two countries.

Hadib Sediqi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's National Security Directorate on Wednesday told reporters in Kabul "unfortunately Pakistani operations have not resulted in severe damage on the part of any international terrorist organizations."

Pakistan in June launch ground offensive against militants in North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The area is a stronghold of the Haqqani network linked to al-Qaeda which had launched a great attack with heavy casualties on the part of the international coalition forces and many officials in Afghanistan.

Sediqi Wednesday said the Haqqani network "immune" from the military operations, "and the Afghan intelligence indicates many key figures Haqqani had left North Waziristan before the operation begins.

Admiral Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs of Staff America in 2011, when it told the American Congress can be said of the Haqqani network is part of Pakistan's military intelligence agency (ISI).


Pakistan denied the allegations and said the current operation in North Waziristan to target all militants. VOA