Pakistani security forces nabbed seven militants, including a militants commander, near the northwest city of Peshawar, local TV channels reported Monday.

Paramilitary troops Frontier Constabulary (FC) conducted a raid in recent days near Charsadda road and arrested Chota Usman, a key militants commander from tehsil Pundyali of Mohmand tribal agency, local sources said.

The arrests came during a search operation as security forces have intensified their hunt for militants in the restive area.

Usman was involved in plotting and executing several attacks against security forces. He is accused of running a parallel court in Pundyali tehsil, a stronghold of Taliban operating in Mohmand.

Pakistani security forces claimed clearance of the area from militants but sporadic violence has continued.

The arrest of Usman could be an important breakthrough for security forces, the private TV DAWN News reported.