"We have seized heavy arms including two surface-to-air missiles and 8,000 rounds of heavy ammunition," commander of Mehsud Scouts Colonel Hameed Iqbal Khattak told AFP.

The catch also features 107mm rockets, 82mm mortar shells, 80mm anti-tank rockets, anti-tank mines and rocket-propelled grenades.

The Russian-made arms were being smuggled from Afghanistan, Khattak said.

The arms were concealed under tea sacks aboard a goods truck in the Khyber tribal area, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Peshawar, he said.

The driver and his helper escaped when scouts intercepted the truck, Khattak said.

WAR.WIRE