In Pakistan, 78 people were killed when hundreds of heavily armed Taliban fighters crossed into Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province and besieged a remote check-post. Those killed include 27 security personnel, 45 militants and 6 civilians. About 300 heavily armed militants attacked the check post at Shalotal in Upper Dir district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province early on Wednesday. Intermittent gun battles between the militants and troops continued till Thursday. Helicopter gun ships pounded locations where the militants are holed up. The administration imposed curfew in the area and sealed it off.