Islamabad: At least 20 militants and four security agents were killed Saturday in a clash in Orakzai Agency administered by the federal government of Pakistan, an official said. 

Three security officers were wounded during the clash near Shirin Dara, Dawn reported online. The shooting lasted for several hours, he said. 

Saturday's clash comes as the military is engaged in an offensive against local and foreign militants in North Waziristan and Khyber.

Orakzai Agency is one of seven semiautonomous tribal regions of Pakistan in the area, where it is said that the Taliban and Pakistani militants linked to Al Qaeda have a strong presence.