Over 18 militants and an army soldier were killed on Friday in a military operation in North Waziristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan, launched following a militant attack on a military checkpost, officials said. Suspected Islamist militants fired dozens of rockets at a military checkpost in Data Khel area of North Waziristan agency, security officials told KUNA. They said rocket attacks killed one soldier and critically wounded five others. Officials said following rockets attack, troops with the support of a gunship helicopter launched the operation against the militants. They bombed the militants' hideouts in the surrounding mountains, officials said, adding that the operation killed at least 18 militants and wounded over a dozen others.This operation came one day after President General Pervez Musharraf warned foreign militants in Waziristan of harsher action. The president said militants hiding there were violating the sovereignty of the country and held them responsible for spreading terrorism. "I warn them that they should quit Pakistan or we'll kill them all." The president said those supporting them would also not be allowed to live in Pakistan. "We'll eliminate terrorists and extremists."