The country's leaders pledged decisive action in the wake of Tuesday's school massacre in Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which left 149 people dead, most of them children.

The rampage brought international condemnation and fuelled calls in Pakistan for action against armed fighters.

Saturday's bombardment comes a day after Pakistan hanged two convicted men in the first executions since 2008 after the government ended a moratorium on the death penalty in the wake of the school massacre.

Officials said that there may be 10 more executions in the coming days: six in Punjab province and four in southern Sindh province.

The Pakistani army has been waging a major offensive against longstanding Taliban and other rebel strongholds in the restive tribal areas on the Afghan border for the last six months.

Meanwhile, US drone strikes in Data Khel area of North Waziristan province left five people dead on Saturday, Pakistani security officials said.

"A US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Mada Khail neighbourhood of Data Khel area in North Waziristan killing five militants. The death toll is expected to rise," a senior security official requesting anonymity told AFP news agency.