Pakistan army kills 30 militants trying to cross from Afghanistan

Pakistan's army said on July 4 it had killed 30 militants attempting to cross the border from Afghanistan over the last three days, after a suicide attack killed 16 soldiers in the same region.

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The militants belonged to the Pakistan Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement accusing arch-foe India of backing them.

"The security forces demonstrated exceptional professionalism, vigilance preparedness and prevented a potential catastrophe," it said.

"A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered," the statement added.

The killings took place in the border district of North Waziristan, where last week a faction of the Pakistan Taliban claimed a suicide blast on the military.