Pakistan army kills 25 militants in Orazkai tribal area

At least 25 militants were killed Saturday during Pakistani security forces' operation in the northwest Orakzai tribal agency, the army said.
Local officials told Xinhua that five security personnel were also injured in the clashes with militants.
The army said that security forces' operation is underway in different parts of Orakzai, the only tribal area which is not bordering Afghanistan.
Last week, the security forces started limited air strikes and ground assault in Orakzai and the offensive became intensive in recent days, killing over 250 militants so far.
Officials said that a large number of militants fled from South Waziristan, the stronghold of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have arrived in Orakzai agency.
Meanwhile, thousands of people have been shifted to safe places as the security forces stepped up operations in the area. Locals said that some 80 percent people have left the area and moved to nearby cities including Hangu and Kohat.
Orakzai agency has a large number of presence of local, Al- Qaeda and foreign militants. Militants fled to this area months ago before the military operation was started in South Waziristan tribal agency.
Orakzai is the second smallest agency in area after Bajaur agency. It is bounded by Kurram agency in the west, Khyber in the north, Kohat district in the south and Peshawar in the east.
The whole of the territory of Orakzai agency is a mountainous and hilly region with a fertile valley. In this regard it is a paradise for Al-Qaeda and other militants to find sanctuaries and use it as the launching pad against Pakistani security forces and even for Afghanistan violence.