In Pakistan, security forces gunned down seven Taliban fighters who were fleeing a military operation in the restive tribal belt in the Swat valley in the country's northwest. An Official said today that the militants were killed when they opened fire after being challenged by troops manning a security check post along the boundary of Dir and Swat districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Troops tightened security in areas bordering Bajaur and intensified checking. Officials said that troops had killed 27 militants in Swat during the past four days.