In Pakistan at least 17 militants were killed and security personnel was injured in clashes between Taliban fighters and security forces in northwest Pakistan today. The paramilitary Frontier Corps said in Peshawar that the skirmishes occurred in Pastawana area near the garrison city of Kohat during a joint operation by the Army and paramilitary forces. A cache of arms, explosives and eight suicide jackets were recovered by the troops.Under US pressure, Pakistan is waging multiple military offensives against militant havens in its northwest. Its northwest tribal belt is branded by US as the most dangerous place in the world and the chief sanctuary of Osama bin Laden led al-Qaeda.