PESHAWAR: At least 16 militants were killed and 20 injured, when security forces repulsed attacks on two check posts in the northwestern tribal region of Orakzai, official sources told Dawn.

Four security personnel were also injured in clashes that followed the attacks on the Shindara and Khazana Kandao checkposts in Orakzai.

The soldiers injured in the attacks that took place a little after midnight were shifted to the Kalaya Agency Headquarters for treatment.

Orakzai is one 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.

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It was a key abode of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud before he was killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan in 2013.

Saturday’s incident comes as Pakistan is engaged in a full-fledged military offensive in the tribal regions of North Waziristan and Khyber and is likely to expand its anti-terrorist onslaught to more areas in the aftermath of the attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School.

The attack in Peshawar that killed over 140 people — most of them children — plunged the country into deep mourning and shook the country’s political and military leadership into working on a multi-tier strategy to counter and thwart terror networks operating and acting in the country.

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Key Taliban commander arrested from Charsadda

Law enforcement agencies arrested a key Taliban Mohmand commander along with two other terrorists from the Shabqadar area of Charsadda.

Speaking to media representatives, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mardan Range Saeed Wazir said that Amanullah alias Imran Khurasani, who was carrying a head money of Rs5 million, was arrested during a raid.

He further said two other terrorists Samiullah alias Abu Bakar and Roohullah were also arrested in the operation. Abu Bakar was said to be involved in attacks on political leaders and other heinous crimes.

Wazir said that about 150 kilograms of explosives were also recovered from the arrested militants.