Air strikes, gun battle kill 55 militants in Pakistan

Troops raids militant hideout on Friday in an area adjoining Orakzai and Khyber tribal districts, near the Afghan border

At least 55 militants were killed in Pakistan military air strikes and a gun battle with the army in the volatile northwest tribal region where a major offensive to wipe out terrorists is on, officials said on Saturday.

"Troops raided a militant hideout on Friday in an area adjoining Orakzai and Khyber tribal districts - near the Afghan border - where the insurgents had gathered for a meeting," a military statement said.

"An intense battle took place, in which 16 terrorists were killed and 20 injured. Fleeing terrorists left behind nine dead bodies of their accomplices. Troops arrested two critically wounded militants while four soldiers were also wounded in the battle," it said.

However, media reports said the gun battle broke out after militants attacked the check posts in Shindara and Khazana Kandao in Orakzai Agency early this morning and Pakistani troops repulsed the assault.

Media reports had earlier put the death toll in the gun battle at 20 but later scaled it down to 16.