Islamic militants have abandoned a border fort in north-western Pakistan they overran after dealing an embarrassing defeat to Pakistan's army on Wednesday.

The battle for the control of the fort killed at least seven of 40 Pakistani troops stationed there, as fifteen others fled and 18 border guards are missing, CNN reported.

The fight over the colonial-era outpost along the Afghan border lasted for about 12 hours before the militants breached the walls with explosives.

The militants left later without another battle with Pakistani forces, Major General Athar Abbas told reporters.

The outpost is in a part of the tribal territory of South Waziristan that is a stronghold of Taliban warlord Baitullah Mehsud, whom the Pakistani government has named a prime suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27.

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