Gunbattles kill 22 militants, 2 troops in northwest Pakistan

Government officials Mohammad Yasin and Mohammad Naseem say the gunbattles Saturday have also killed two troops.

They say the clashes erupted after the militants ambushed security forces checkpoints in Orakzai and Kurram tribal regions.

Pakistani paramilitary and army troops are fighting in both the areas the militants who have fled an offensive in their headquarters of South Waziristan.

Washington has welcomed the effort and also wants the Pakistani army to target the Taliban blamed for violence across the border in Afghanistan. Pakistani army has said it is difficult to launch another operation up to one more year.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.