Pakistan's army has begun an offensive against suspected terrorists in a mountainous region near the Afghanistan border that is believed to be used by al-Qaeda.
It was not yet known whether troops made any major arrests during the operation.
An intelligence official said authorities received word three days ago that a group of armed men believed to be foreigners were in an area called Azam Warsak, near Wana.
Tribal elders were contacted and asked the men to surrender, but they refused, prompting the military action.
Troops stormed the compound where the men are believed to be holed up at 3 a.m. local time, an official said. He said there had been an exchange of fire and that several army helicopters were involved. Soldiers used loudspeakers to urge villagers to leave the area.
The official also said US forces were conducting simultaneous operations on the Afghan side of the border, but that could not be immediately verified.