Mine blast kills 9 soldiers:

KANDAHAR: Nine Afghan soldiers died and another was injured on Saturday when a mine exploded near their vehicle as they traveled close to the Pakistani border, an Afghan commander said, one of the bloodiest attacks in months. The 10 soldiers from a border guard unit were aboard a pickup truck when it struck the mine on a road near Spinboldak, Abdul Raziq Khan, the unit’s commander, said. The only survivor, an officer called Qadir Bhai, was injured. — AP

Pak arrests 43 fishermen:

KARACHI: Pakistan’s coast guard arrested 43 Indian fishermen and seized their seven boats for allegedly fishing in Pakistani waters in the Arabian Sea, an official said on Saturday. — AP

Voters in J&K defy threats:

SRINAGAR: Defying rebel threats, voters turned out in big numbers on Saturday to cast ballots in the first leg of municipal polls in Kashmir, officials said. Islamic separatist rebels had staged a spate of deadly attacks on candidates, party workers and rallies in the lead-up to the elections that are being held in stages in the restive region to protect voters. “Nearly 60 per cent voters cast their ballot today,” an election official said. — AFP