KARACHI: At least 19 suspected terrorists were killed on Tuesday in precise aerial strikes on terrorist hideouts in Dandi Kachkol near the areas of Ghulam Khan, Gurbaz and Mana near Pasht Ziarat in North Waziristan Agency, said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). However, this information could not be independently verified as the access of media is restricted in the region.

Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) negotiators.

The Taliban and their ethnic Uzbek allies both claimed responsibility for the attack on Karachi airport, which was seen as a strategic turning point in how Pakistan tackles the insurgency.

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.

North Waziristan has been isolated by deploying troops along its border with neighbouring agencies and Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (Fata) regions to block any move of terrorists in and out of the Agency.

Also read: Air strikes kill 23 suspected terrorists in North Waziristan

Armed forces reaffirm resolve to eradicate terrorism

Pakistan's armed forces have reaffirmed their resolve to eradicate terrorism from across the country as per a comprehensive security strategy.

The three armed forces expressed their resolve during a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Meeting held at the Joint Staff Headquarters with Chairman General Rashad Mahmood in the chair.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Secretary Defence and senior military officers from the three armed forces.

The participants in the meeting appreciated the steps taken to combat the menace of terrorism and the progress of Operation Zarb-i-Azb.