Paramilitary forces raided a militant hideout in Pakistan's rugged tribal region near the Afghan border on Monday, sparking fighting that killed nine soldiers and 14 insurgents, officials said.
Clashes are common in the area, but the death toll from the fighting on Monday was unusually high on the Pakistani side.
The raid took place in Akka Khel village in the Khyber tribal area, said Farooq Khan, a senior local government official.
A military official confirmed the number of soldiers killed and said helicopter gunships were called in to provide support. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to reporters.
It was unclear which militant group was targeted in the raid, but the Pakistani Taliban have frequently clashed with security forces in Khyber. The group has declared war on the Pakistani government, partly because of its alliance with the U.S.
The Pakistani Taliban has also targeted trucks carrying supplies through Khyber on their way to Nato troops in Afghanistan.