Lahore: At least 26 Pakistani soldiers were killed when hundreds of militants swarmed across from Afghanistan to attack several army posts in Chitral area of north western Pakistan on Saturday.

This was the biggest in series of attacks that Pakistani officials say have been launched from an area of eastern Afghanistan where the United States has largely pulled out its troops.

Police in the region confirmed 12 deaths. Those killed include Pakistani soldiers and police, who were manning the border check posts, official said. Express TV reported that 26 Pakistani security personnel were killed in attack by Afghan militants.

Police said militants crossed into Pakistani territory and launched attack on a Pakistani police post at the border area of Arando. The attack prompted clashes between the Pakistani border troops and the militants. Several militants were also killed, they said.

TV channels reported that Pakistani forces also blew up four bridges apparently to foil attempt by the militants to come deep into Pakistani territory. The clashes resulted into the blockade of main road between Chitral and the border region of Arando, forcing the people to stay indoors, Express TV reported.

TV channels earlier reported that a large number of militants launched pre-dawn attacks on several posts with rockets and heavy weapons. Several rockets landed on the camps of ‘Chitral Scouts’. Pakistani forces also returned fire and inflicted heavy casualties on the militants, reports said.

Chitral borders Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province. It was not clear if the Afghan or Pakistani militants had been involved in the attack. The army says that Pakistani militants have now established bases in Afghanistan’s border regions and launch attacks into Pakistan from there.

Police sources claimed that the attackers looked like Afghans, who returned to Afghanistan after the attack. Pakistan sent more troops to the border. It is the second attack on Pakistani posts in Chitral from Afghan territory.

Pakistan army  said last month that nearly 50 Pakistani soldiers and several civilians had been killed in at least five attacks on border check posts by militants who crossed into Pakistan from Afghan territory.

Army spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas said that Pakistani Taliban leaders: Maulvi Faqir, Maulvi Fazalulah and Muhammad Wali, have now established bases in Afghanistan and routinely launch attacks on Pakistani border posts.

Afghan authorities had rejected Pakistani claim and Afghan Taliban denied any involvement in attacks on Pakistani posts.