Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gunships yesterday killed 30 militants and captured key heights in a tribal area after facing tough resistance in which six soldiers were killed, officials said.

Fighting erupted at several places in Orakzai district near the Afghan border, where security forces have been pressing a new offensive to flush out Taliban believed to have fled a major offensive in South Waziristan last year.

"Security forces have taken control of important heights around Bezoti area after encountering tough resistance," a military statement said.

"During the operation 30 terrorists were killed and many got injured," it said.

"Six security personnel embraced martyrdom while 10 got injured," the statement said.

Earlier local administration and military officials said fighting erupted at several places and helicopter gunships pounded rebels positions in which a total of 22 militants were killed.

Major Fazlur Rehman, spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps told AFP, that militants based in mountain hideouts attacked a military convoy between the towns of Goeen and Hindara and the gunbattle left at least 13 Taliban dead.

Local administration official Sajjad Ahmed, who also put the militant toll at 13 dead, said helicopter gunships pounded the rebels in the area. Six other militants wounded in the clash had been arrested, Ahmed told AFP.

Ground forces attacked militant hideouts in Otman Khel also and killed nine Taliban insurgents, Rehman said.