ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Pakistani forces have cleared militant strongholds from three parts of the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border and 40 militants and eight soldiers have been killed in fighting, the military said on Thursday.

"Forty miscreants have been killed in the last 24 hours and 30 miscreants have been apprehended while many injured," the military said in a statement. Eight soldiers had been killed and 32 wounded, it said. (Reporting by Robert Birsel; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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