At least 32 people, most of them insurgents, were killed on Saturday in clashes with pro-government tribesmen and airstrikes by Pakistan army in Orakzai Agency, security officials said. Jet fighters pounded the hideouts of Taliban militants in Orakzai Agency, one of seven districts in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border, killing at least 10 rebels.
"Unknown numbers of terrorists were wounded while the airstrikes destroyed their five hideouts and training camps," said an intelligence agent, speaking on condition of anonymity. The aerial assaults came as Pakistani forces were planning an offensive in the district. Hundreds of Taliban fleeing a military operation in the neighbouring region of South Waziristan region are believed to have taken shelter there.
The Waziristan offensive has also forced hundreds more rebels to move to a tribal district in Kurram Agency where local residents have formed a lashkar or tribal militia against them. Dozens of tribesmen and militants clashed on Saturday, targeting each other's positions with rocket propelled grenades and mortar guns in Kurram Agency.
The fighting started when Islamist rebels attacked some members of the lashkar, killing two of them and setting their houses on fire. "According to the information we have received so far, 20 miscreants and two local tribesmen were killed in the fighting that still continues," said a second intelligence agent, also speaking on condition of anonymity.