The number of militants killed in an airstrike launched on Sunday by the Pakistani army in the country's northwest tribal area of Orakzai has risen to 60, local TV channel Express reported on early Monday morning.

According to local media reports, the Pakistani air force launched the airstrike over the weekend at the hideouts of the militants in Orakzai, a region adjacent to Afghanistan, killing dozens of militants in the area. During the airstrike, five Pakistani troops were also reportedly killed.

The airstrike is part of an operation launched by the Pakistani army in the area of Orakzai since mid-March. Thousands of troops have taken part in the operation, which has not been much publicized until recently.

To date, at least 700 militants have been killed in the operation and 80 hideouts of the militants including 20 training centers have been destroyed.

Army sources disclosed that they have taken control over most areas in Orakzai and are now pressing forward toward the upper Orakzai.

UN officials said that over 200,000 people have fled Orakzai since the operation started.