**At least eight Pakistani soldiers have been killed by a mine blast in the north-west of country, close to the Afghan border, the military says.**The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in Mohmand district, in which two soldiers were also injured.
The deaths come as Pakistan’s army continues it offensive against Taliban militants in the mountainous South Waziristan province.
The army says that it is now in control of 80% of the province.
Helicopter attack
Military spokesman Maj Fazal ur-Rehman told the AFP news agency the deaths occurred as the soldiers drove over a landmine while on a routine patrol.
Mohmand district has seen sporadic clashes between militants and security forces in recent months.
The BBC’s Shoaib Syed Hasan in Islamabad says military casualties have been relatively low in the South Waziristan offensive, so the deaths in Mohmand will be a major set back for the army.
Earlier, officials said military helicopters had attacked Taliban hideouts in the Mohmand region, killing 10 suspected militants.
That operation followed an attack on a security checkpoint, in which two soldiers were killed and another 10 soldiers were reported missing.
Meanwhile, a three-day general strike is being held in the town of Charsadda, 20km (12 miles) north-east of Peshawar, following a bombing on Tuesday which killed at least 32 people.
Officials now say the attack, which injured 70 others, was probably aimed at the head of police in the district.
More than 300 people have been killed in a wave of attacks as the South Waziristan offensive continues.
Our correspondent says that ordinary citizens are increasingly being targeted in bomb attacks. Analysts believe this is because the militants are cornered and under great army pressure in South Waziristan.
Officials insist they are determined to complete the offensive.