PESHAWAR: At least 25 suspected militants were killed and eight others injured when military planes pounded their hideouts in Dattakhel teshil of North Waziristan tribal region on Thursday.

Sources said the militant positions were targeted in Alwara Mandi and Lattaka Madakhel areas of Dattakhel tehsil early in the morning.

Alwara Mandi and Lattaka Madakhel are situated along the Afghan border, some 2km from the Afghan provinces of Khost and Paktia, and 65km west of North Waziristan’s headquarters of Miramshah.

The sources claimed that 12 foreigners were among the suspects killed.

Five hideouts and three vehicles loaded with arms and explosives were also destroyed in the air strikes.

The conflict zone is remote and off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to verify the claims, including the number and identity of those killed.

Overall levels of militancy-linked violence have dropped dramatically this year.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2015

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