PESHAWAR: Seventy-six suspected militants were killed in North Waziristan and 16 in Khyber Agency when planes pounded their hideouts in the two volatile regions on Tuesday, the military said.

“In a precise aerial strike in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan in the afternoon, 53 militants, including 12 foreigners, were killed. Six hideouts, an ammunition dump and seven explosives-laden vehicles were destroyed,” said an ISPR statement.

The jet fighters targeted militants’ positions in Kharh Tangi, some 35km west of the agency headquarters of Miramshah. Most of the foreigners killed were Uzbeks, military sources said.

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In another strike in the same area later, 23 militants were killed, the ISPR claimed.

Since the area is off-limits to journalists, it is difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

The jets continued shelling for about one hour, inflicting heavy losses on the militants, sources said.

TIRAH VALLEY: In Khyber Agency, at least 16 suspected militants were killed and 12 others injured when military planes pounded their hideouts in Tirah valley, according to security officials.

The air strikes were carried out in Therkho Kas, Wacha Wana, Sra Vella and Nakai areas, near the Afghan border. The officials claimed that those killed belonged to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-i-Islam. Six militant hideouts were destroyed in the strikes. 

On Monday security officials had claimed that eight militants were killed in the same region.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2015

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