ISLAMABAD, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and five others injured when militants opened fire on an army post and a security patrol in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province early Friday morning, security sources said.

The incident happened at about 4:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT Thursday) in Khyber district when the militants simultaneously attacked the check post and the block party of the same regiment deployed approximately 200 meters from the main post, the sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"During the assaults, the attackers used under-barrel grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and small arms, while security forces responded effectively, leading to an intense exchange of fire," the sources said.

They added that the area is remote, and communication challenges are hindering the timely flow of information.

Authorities have imposed a curfew in the region until Saturday as part of ongoing clearance operations, the sources said.

No group has yet claimed the attack. However, the sources noted that several militant outfits, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), remain active in the area. ■