ISLAMABAD, July 17 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 17 suspected foreign militants have been killed in a clash with Pakistani security forces in the country's North Waziristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan, private Geo TV Sunday reported.

    A Pakistani soldier was also killed in the clash, the report said.

    Military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan did not confirmthe killings, only saying an incident had taken place in the tribal area.

    He said the fighting occurred late Saturday when soldiers acting on a tip surrounded a group of suspected militants near Miran Shah, headquarters of North Waziristan.

    Some suspects were hit by gunfire when they tried to break out of the cordon in two vehicles, Sultan said.

    Saturday's clash took place two days after 24 Taliban fighters were killed in Pakistan's tribal area by the US-led coalition forces.

    Pakistani security forces have launched operations in the tribal areas to hunt for al-Qaeda terrorists and Taliban remnants since late 2001. Hundreds of foreign militants have been killed while 600 more captured in the operations in the past years.

    Pakistan, a key US ally in the war on terror, says that 70,000 troops have been deployed in the tribal areas and 669 check posts have been established to check illegal cross-border movement. Enditem