Security forces killed 38 militants in two separate operations on Sunday in Orakzai tribal area, a local official said. The offensive in Orakzai area is the latest push by the army to rout the extremists.
Militants attacked an army checkpoint in Sayd Khalil Baba village on Sunday morning, but troops backed by artillery fire repulsed the assault and killed 26 insurgents, said Samiullah Khan, a senior government administrator in the Orakzai region.
Also Sunday, soldiers invaded militant hide-outs in another area of Orakzai, killing 12 Taliban fighters, said Khan. It is impossible to independently verify the government's claims because the area is off-limits to journalists. Taliban fighters in the area are not available for comment.