DHAKA: Afghan forces repulsed an assault by hundreds of militants, many from across the border in Pakistan, officials said Wednesday, in the biggest clashes since the presidential election almost four weeks ago.

Nato air support was called in to help beat back the attack that left 60 militants and at least five Afghan soldiers dead at an army base near the porous border on Monday night.

‘A group of terrorists and foreign fighters numbering about 500... launched a big operation targeting army posts in Zirok district of Paktika province,’ the Afghan defence ministry said in a statement, reports The Times of India.

It said the militants were trying to score a high-profile victory after failing to mount a significant attack on polling day despite threatening to target voters, election officials and security forces.

The Afghan National Directorate of Security, the country’s intelligence agency, said 300 fighters from the Haqqani network, which is allied to the Taliban, and other insurgents were involved.

‘Haqqani and foreign fighters along with suicide attackers carried out an assault on the night of April 28 to capture a military base in Zirok district,’ it said.

BDST: 2100 HRS, APR 30, 2014