Pakistani soldiers are claiming success in the battle with militants along the Afghan border, as insurgents killed two Westerners and an Afghan in the country's capital, Kabul.

Pakistani soldiers have killed 1,500 suspected insurgents at a cost of 73 of their own dead since an offensive began in August, including capturing the militant town of Loi Sam, Maj.-Gen. Tariq Khan said Saturday.

The town is in the lawless border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which Taliban militants use as a base to launch attacks on both countries.

Also on Saturday, the director and deputy director for the German DHL express company were shot dead at the company's office in Kabul. An Afghan was also killed.

The British Foreign Office identified the dead as a South African and a Briton.

An Afghan government spokesman said it was not known who shot the victims. A Taliban spokesman denied responsibility.

The government spokesman said 13 people had been arrested, including DHL guards and employees.

The DHL executives were apparently shot as their vehicle pulled into the company office. DHL is owned by Deutsche Post, an investor-owned German telecommunications and postal company.

With files from the Associated Press