Late last year military officials said lower Orakzai had been cleared, but the militant threat persisted in some pockets of the upper part of the area. — Photo by AFP

KALAYA: At least militants were killed in the Orakzai tribal region on Friday as security forces attacked their hideouts with helicopter gunships, DawnNews reported.

Three insurgent hideouts were destroyed in the action in Orakzai's Shakar Tangi area, government sources told DawnNews.

Moreover, a search operation was also being conducted in the Saifal Darra, Kasha and Samana areas of the tribal region.

There was no independent confirmation of the action as the region is remote and out of bounds for journalists.

Earlier on Thursday, two security officials were killed when a remote-controlled bomb struck their vehicle in Orkazai.

In a counter-attack soon after, government forces killed eight militants, local officials said.

Orakzai is one of the most lawless areas in Pakistan’s northwest tribal region, which is made up of seven districts near the Afghan border.

Pakistan launched a major operation in Orakzai in March last year after militants fled a sweeping offensive in the nearby tribal district of South Waziristan.

Late last year military officials said lower Orakzai had been cleared, but the militant threat persisted in some pockets of the upper part of the area.

Around 4,000 people have been killed in militant attacks in Pakistan since July 2007.