Clashes and bomb attacks continue to ravage the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, at least sixteen people being killed in the past days, security officials informed on Thursday.

An intense gunbattle broke out after government forces were attacked by militants while heading towards the capital town of South Waziristan, Wana, a military spokesman said. The ground troops received support from helicopters and were able to retaliate in force, killing at least ten militants and injuring a dozen more.

According to army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad, two servicemen were also killed during the fierce fire exchange.

Two soldiers died and four were wounded after a powerful blast ripped through the vehicle they were travelling in North Waziristan. The explosion was caused by a roadside bomb, security forces detaining several people allegedly responsible for the attack.

A similar incident led to the death of a prominent tribal leader in the Bajaur district, the smallest within the Pakistani Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA). The explosion also killed his driver and wounded two men in charge with the leader’s security.

In other developments, a group of tribal elders are trying to secure the release of fifteen soldiers abducted last week by insurgents in the same mountainous regions. Negotiations didn’t provide a solution yet, the militants asking for the release of ten comrades in exchange for the servicemen.

Initially, sixteen troopers were kidnapped but one was executed, his body being discovered on Tuesday.

This wave of violence became more intense after extremists pledged to revenge the death of about 100 alleged militants, killed by government troops during the Lal Masjid siege last month.