PESHAWAR/LANDI­KOTAL: At least 31 suspected militants were killed and several others injured when military planes poun­ded hideouts of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies on Wednesday.

According to an ISPR statement, “31 terrorists were killed and their hideouts were destroyed in Khyber and North Waziristan agencies. Fourteen terrorists were killed in area close to Pak-Afghan border in Khyber agency and 17 terrorists in Shawal area of North Waziristan”.

Informed sources said that the planes targeted militants’ positions in Zoi, Zaidgai and Mana areas of Shawal and Dattakhel in North Waziristan close to South Waziristan border. They said the air strikes started at 9:30am and continued for two hours, destroying five hideouts.

In Khyber Agency, the ISPR said, the air strikes were conducted in Rajgul and Ghaibee Kandaw passes of Kukikhel territory in Tirah valley. The planes targeted hideouts of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-i-Islam in the area, killing 14 terrorists and injuring five others. Five hideouts were destroyed, the statement said.

The air strikes were carried out a day after a suicide attack in Jamrud in which four people, including two Khasadar personnel, were killed and over 50 civilians were injured. Both Taliban and LI claimed responsibility of the attack.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

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