Pakistan army says it killed 16 Islamist militants on Afghan border

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Pakistani soldier stands guard at an outpost on the border with Afghanistan in South Waziristan, Pakistan October 18, 2017. REUTERS/Caren Firouz

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -     Pakistan's army has killed 16 Islamist militants along the country's western border with Afghanistan, a statement said on Sunday.

It said border troops killed all the militants in an exchange of fire during the night between March 22 and 23 in North Waziristan district.

"Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate," the army statement said.

Islamabad says that Islamist militants who attack inside Pakistan, and against the army have safe havens in Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.

The incident took place as Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan is on a two-day official visit to Kabul to talk about bilateral and economic issues, a statement from Pakistan's embassy in Kabul said.

 (Reporting by Asif Shahzad;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)