PESHAWAR: Eight militants were killed and 12 others injured in an air strike by the Pakistani security agencies in Orakzai agency while a mortar blast killed two people including a child in Mohmand agency on Thursday.

Both areas are part of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in the northwest, where Pakistani Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants are said to have carved out strongholds.

Assistant political agent Upper Orakzai Rafiq Mohmand has confirmed the reports of at least eight militants’ deaths and said that 12 others were injured when the military jets targeted their hideouts in Mamozai area.

He said at least three hideouts of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) backed militants were destroyed in the strikes along with their ammunition depots.

Security officials claim that up to 92 per cent of the Orakzai agency has been cleared of the militants, however, the border area between Tirrah valley and Kurram agency is still being held by them, which is being targeted now.

In a separate incident, a mortar shell explosion has left two people including a child dead in Safi Tehsil of Mohmand agency.

According to officials, the boy and the youngster overstepped a mortar shell near their house which exploded, resulting in the death of the two on the spot.