PESHAWAR: At least 23 suspected militants, including some key Taliban ‘commanders’, were killed as military planes pounded their hideouts in the Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Agency on Friday, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

And in the agency’s Shawal Valley, nine suspected militants were killed in two US drone strikes.

The air strikes by PAF jets targeted militant positions in Madakhel, Lataka and Basikel areas of Dattakhel tehsil. Six hideouts were destroyed, an ISPR press release said.

Taliban ‘commanders’, Uzbek militants among 32 killed

“In very effective and precise aerial strikes north of Dattakhel in North Waziristan, 23 terrorists, including some important commanders, were killed. A huge underground ammunition dump and tunnel system were destroyed,” the ISPR said.

In one of the drone attacks, a security official said, four suspected militants, all believed to be Uzbek, were killed when a missile hit a vehicle in Manglathae area, 60kms west of Miramshah, North Waziristan’s administrative headquarters.

In the second strike, the drone fired two missiles at a base of Punjabi Taliban leader Asmatullah Muawiyah in Kund Sar area of Shawal Valley, killing five suspected militants, the official said.

It was also not clear whether or not Muawiyah was there at the time of the attack.

According to security officials, most of the local and foreign militants have taken shelter in the densely forested valley after fleeing the military operation in Miramshah and Mirali. They are being continuously targeted by military planes and US drones.

The military claims that more than 90 per cent area of North Waziristan has been cleared of militants since the launch of Operation Zarb-i-Azb in June. Over 2,000 militants have been killed in the offensive.

However, there has been no independent confirmation of the claim as the media has no access to the region.

Eighteen drone strikes have been carried out in the area so far this year.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014