Pakistani helicopter gunships have attacked militant hideouts in a tribal region along the Afghan border.

Officials say at least 25 pro-Taliban militants and seven paramilitary soldiers have been killed so far in fighting that broke out Wednesday in the Bajaur tribal region.

The Bajaur region is a known haven for Taliban and al-Qaida militants, and officials suspect they use the area as a base for attacks in neighboring Afghanistan.

Also Friday, suspected Taliban militants killed three people and dumped their bodies near Bajaur's main town of Khar.  Officials say the bodies had letters attached to them, saying the victims were killed for spying on the Taliban.

Separately, police say militants attacked a police station in Matni, near Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, late Thursday.  One police officer and several militants were killed in the ensuing clash.

Officials say militants also blew up an electricity transmission network in Sheikh Mohammadi, another area near Peshawar, cutting off power to thousands of homes in the tribal region.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.