PESHAWAR: War planes pounded suspected militant hideouts on the outskirts of Mirali town in North Waziristan Agency on Sunday, but there were no reports about casualties.

Officials said the planes shelled five hideouts in Mirali sub-division. Air strikes were also carried out in Mosaki village, about 25km east of Miramshah.

Over 400 suspected militants have been killed since the military launched the Zarb-i-Azb operation against Taliban in the restive agency on June 15.

Miramshah, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan, has been partially cleared of terrorists while ground forces have yet to enter Mirali, the second largest town of the agency.

Miramshah has been partially cleared of terrorists while ground forces have yet to enter Mirali

IDPS: Officials said the Fata Disaster Management Authority was likely to complete registration of internally displaced persons on Tuesday. Over 900,000 have left North Waziristan so far. They said about 5,000 displaced families had been registered in Peshawar.

An official said data of the registered IDPs was being sent to the National Database and Registration Authority for verification. He said there were duplication and overlapping in registration and the number of registered families might come down to 45,000 from 83,000 after scrutiny and verification.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is expected to visit Bannu on Monday and announce Rs6,800 per month for each of the displaced families as long as they stay in camps.

The Punjab government has already sent relief goods for IDPs in Bannu and Lakki Marwat.

AFP adds: A security official said five insurgents had been killed and two militant hideouts destroyed by artillery fire in Kharkamar area, about 30km west of Miramshah, on late Saturday night.

A local intelligence official confirmed the raids and militant casualties.

A military statement also said that a number of terrorists were killed but did not give the exact number.

The latest air strikes came a day after militants crossed from the Afghan province of Kunar to launch a pre-dawn ambush on a checkpost in Bajaur, killing three Pakistani soldiers.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014