PESHAWAR: Military planes bombed suspected terrorist hideouts in Datakhel area of North Waziristan on Thursday night and killed 15 militants.

Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement issued here on Friday that some foreigners were among the dead. The claim could not be verified from independent sources.

Sources said the hideouts were situated near the Afghan border and vehicles and infrastructure were damaged in the air strikes.

Troops begin massive offensive to push the Taliban from their last major stronghold

Security forces have been using air force in the Zarb-i-Azb operation to soften targets.

Reuters adds: Pakistani troops began on Friday morning a “massive” offensive to try to push the Taliban from their last major stronghold in the mountainous region of North Waziristan, moving in from north and south, officials and residents said.

The heavily forested ravines of Shawal Valley are pockmarked with Taliban hideouts and the valley itself is a key smuggling route into Afghanistan.

“It is a massive military action against the Taliban militants and their allies in the Shawal mountains,” said a government official who asked for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak about military operations.

The Taliban controlled almost all of North Waziristan until troops launched a long-awaited offensive there in June last year. The Taliban still maintain control of Shawal Valley and have used it as a launching pad for attacks on Pakistani forces.

Residents said tanks and soldiers were approaching the valley from the north and south.

“Hundreds of trucks and pick-ups full of soldiers and weapons...are moving towards Shawal,” said Zainullah, a telephone operator in the valley. “There are roadblocks everywhere, no-one can come in or go out. There is a complete curfew and phones lines are also being cut.”

Security officials said the military had requested help from Afghanistan to prevent militants from fleeing over the border.

A resident said there had been heavy fighting between the militants and the military on the edge of the valley and civilians feared being trapped. “We are in fear, especially the kids,” he said. “We are now preparing to leave the area and shift to safe places, because last night artillery shells were fired continuously.”

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2015

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