Islamabad: At least 18 militants have been killed in the latest air strikes in the ongoing eight week-old military operation in Pakistan’s tribal region bordering Afghanistan, the military said on Tuesday.
Military jets pounded hideouts of terrorists in North Waziristan and neighbouring Khyber Agency tribal areas.
The air strikes destroyed five hideouts in Khyber Agency and seven in North Waziristan, killing 18 terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The military operation, launched on June 16 after the collapse of the government’s peace talks with outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has focused on North Waziristan, notorious hub of local and foreign militant groups.
The military says it has destroyed command and control systems of terrorists in North Waziristan and cleared a number of areas including main towns of Miranshah and Mir Ali.
Nearly 600 terrorists, including Uzbeks and other foreigners, have so far been killed, according to information released by ISPR from time to time on the operation’s progress.
No time frame has been given for completion of the military operation, which led to evacuation of around a million people from North Waziristan, now living in camps or with relatives, mainly in north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
