World Bulletin/News Desk

Fierce clashes between Pakistani security forces and Taliban left 25 militants and seven troops dead in the northwestern tribal region of Orakzai on Saturday morning, officials have said.

Clashes erupted after security forces launched a search operation in the lower part of Orakzai Agency -- one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in Pakistan -- a senior military official said, on condition of anonymity.

The Pakistani army is already engaged in operations against militants in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency. Intelligence officials believe that operations in the two tribal regions have forced militants to move to other tribal areas.

The army claims to have killed over 1,400 militants in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency in over four months. The figures, however, cannot be verified due to absence of independent media in the region.

Over 100 troops have also been killed in landmine blasts and clashes with Taliban and their affiliates during this period.