PESHAWAR: At least 20 suspected militants were killed and their hideouts were destroyed in early morning air strikes carried out by fighter jets in the Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan, Pakistani military claims on Wednesday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) claimed that foreign militants were also among the killed.

A statement issued by the ISPR said that foreign currency was seized from Mirali Bazar during the operation while an IED and explosives factory was also discovered in the area.

It said that four isolated terrorist hideouts were destroyed early in the morning through aerial strikes in Shawal Valley, killing 20 local and foreign terrorists.

However, these claims could not be independently verified.

The media has no access to the tribal region, making it difficult to verify the claims of military as well as militant sources.

28 more militants killed in North Waziristan operation: ISPR

The military operation named Zarb-i-Azb was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 15 following a brazen Taliban-claimed attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan negotiators.

Eid package for IDPS

Meanwhile, a special Eid Package was dispatched for the IDPs of North Waziristan Agency by Rawalpindi Corps on Wednesday.

The ISPR statement said that 32 trucks, carrying 220 tons of rations that include flour, rice, sugar, lentils, cooking oil, dry milk and tea were dispatched from Race Course Ground for the IDPs.

This entire ration was voluntarily deposited by the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi at collection points established by the Pakistan army.

It was 2nd consignment dispatched by the Rawalpindi Corps for the IDPs, making a total of 440 tons of ration so far, said the statement.

Nearly a million people have fled the offensive in North Waziristan, which is aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.

Tens of thousands of families have left for the town of Bannu, close to North Waziristan, while hundreds more have moved further afield to the towns of Lakki Marwat, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan since the Operation Zarb-i-Azb began in mid-June.