12 killed in violence in northwest Pakistan

A member of an anti-Taliban militia died in a bomb blast while 11 militants were killed in an operation by security forces in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, officials said.

A remote-controlled bomb went off outside a shop in Salarzai, a town in Bajaur tribal region, killing a member of an anti-Taliban militia and injuring three more. The shop was destroyed by the blast, officials said.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast though such attacks on pro-government tribesmen are usually blamed on the Taliban.

The army conducted anti-militant operations in Bajaur Agency in August 2008 and in February 2009 but the Taliban have carried out several attacks in the region in recent months.

In the Orakzai tribal region, troops backed by fighter jets targeted militant hideouts in several areas, TV news channels reported. At least 11 militants were killed and six more injured in the operation, officials were quoted as saying.