The fighting took place in remote Mohmand region, part of the lawless tribal belt along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, killing 12 tribal militiamen and 4 militants.

Islamabad has encouraged local tribesmen in the semiautonomous frontier areas to establish militias -- known as lashkars -- to flush out Taliban fighters blamed for attacks in Pakistan as well as in Afghanistan.

Such groups have been set up in several regions, but face stiff Taliban resistance.

Saturday's clash was the first major fighting in months between tribesmen and militants in the Mohmand tribal region. Tribal elders have begun to clear the area of militants after receiving a warning from the military that it would be forced to send in troops if the tribesmen failed to either kill or evict the insurgents.

Dozens of militants attacked the tribesmen after receiving a warning from a council of tribal elders to leave the area, the official said.

"The fighting between tribesmen and Taliban began this morning and so far 16 people, including 12 tribesmen and four Taliban have died," a local government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Local security officials confirmed the clashes and the death toll.

Access to the remote region is strictly controlled, and the account could not be independently verified.

The violence comes as Pakistan's military prepares for an offensive in South Waziristan, another part of the tribal belt where top Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding.