A group of militants entered the high security area near the US consulate in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar on Saturday, triggering a gun battle with security forces. There was no official word on the incident, though TV news channels reported that the militants were holed up in the area near the US consulate, which is located within the Peshawar cantonment, and exchanging heavy fire with security forces.TV channels also reported that some militants had stormed a government building.A large number of police personnel, including many in plainclothes, and army soldiers were deployed in the area. They blocked key roads and sealed off the area near Shama Chowk.Helicopters are being used to mount aerial surveillance of the area.This is the second attempt by militants to target the US consulate in Peshawar.On April 5, militants armed with automatic weapons and suicide car bombs tried to storm the consulate, killing three persons. At least six attackers were gunned down or blew themselves up. Meanwhile, Taleban militants today attacked a US base in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan. The Taleban said upto thirty fighters including suicide bombers were involved in the attack. NATO's International Security Assistance Force was unable to confirm reports that the base had come under attack but said it was investigating the reports. Local police chief Adbul Hakim Is'haqzai told AFP that Taliban militants had first attacked Forward Operating Base at Salerno before retreating to occupy a secondary school in Khost city, the provincial capital. Mr. Is'haqzai said today's attack began when insurgents launched rockets and gunfire on Salerno in the early hours of the morning.