PARACHINAR, Pakistan, December 13, SPA -- Pakistani soldiers battled militants in a tribal region close to the Afghan border Sunday, killing seven insurgents but losing two of their own in skirmishes, officials said. The fighting overnight in the Kurram tribal region comes amid an offensive by 30,000 Pakistani troops in nearby South Waziristan, the Associated Press reported. Troops moved into two areas in Kurram on Saturday and engaged in fierce battles that killed 15 militants and three soldiers, three officials said. Seven militants and two troops died as fighting raged overnight, they said. --SPA 11:45 LOCAL TIME 08:45 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/727534