PESHAWAR: At least 20 militants and four security personnel were killed on Saturday in a clash in the northwestern tribal region of Orakzai, official sources told Dawn.

Three security personnel and a number of militants were also injured during the clash in lower Orakzai's Shirin Dara area, sources said, adding that the firefight lasted several hours.

This could not be independently verified as journalists have restricted access in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Saturday's clash comes as the army is engaged in an offensive against local and foreign militants in the northwestern tribal regions of North Waziristan and Khyber.

Orakzai is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in the area, where Pakistani Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked militants are said to have carved out strongholds.

Also read: 21 militants killed in Khyber air strikes

Security man killed in IED blast in Bajaur

A security man was killed and one other was injured in a blast caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Bajaur tribal region.

The blast took place in the Kamar Sar area of Bajaur's Mamond tehsil.

As of yet, no one has claimed the attack in Bajaur, a region known to be infested with militants, including those from Al Qaeda and other armed extremist organisations.

Explore: Nine soldiers injured in Bajaur blast