Islamabad  - Eleven Islamist insurgents and a soldier were killed on Saturday in clashes in the lawless north-western tribal district where Pakistan borders Afghanistan, a security official said.

Fazal-ur-Rehman, a spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps, said in a press statement that the fighting took place during a security operation in Gurgray area of Khyber district.

"Eleven militants including a suicide bomber were killed, while four vehicles including one explosives-laden vehicle were destroyed," Rehman said. "One soldier died while three were injured in today's action."

As a part of its efforts against rising Islamic militancy, Pakistan in early September launched a major offensive in Khyber, which lies on the main supply route for western troops into the landlocked Afghanistan.

The assault largely focuses on insurgents linked with Lashkar-e- Islam militant group that has close ties with Pakistani Taliban.

The group is believed to have facilitated the Taliban rebels to carry out dozens of attacks on NATO convoys.

The group is also blamed for several terrorist acts including suicide attacks on government and civilian targets, in the Khyber tribal region and the neighbouring North Western Frontier Province.  dpa