PESHAWAR - At least 13 militants, including foreigners, were killed when jet fighters pounded their hideouts in North Waziristan Agency on Tuesday.
According to ISPR, the media wing of Pakistan Army, said jet fighters carried out air strikes on militants’ hideouts early morning in the Degan area of North Waziristan Agency where the forces have launched Zarb-e-Azb operation against local and foreigners militants since June 15 last.
Around seven hideouts of the militants were destroyed completely while at least 13 militants were killed. The ISPR confirmed that the air strikes were carried out early in the morning in the Degan area.
It said seven militant hideouts were destroyed and 13 militants, including foreigners, were killed in the action. The strikes came a day after Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited North Waziristan where he was briefed on the ongoing operation against militants and met with troops as well.
The Zarb-e-Azb operation is in progress with full force in North Waziristan as Pakistan Army is fighting foreign and local terrorists. A large part of Miranshah has been cleared in the ground and aerial offensive against the militants.
In the three weeks of the military offensive, a huge stockpile of explosives and heavy weapons has been recovered. In addition, around 800,000 tribesmen have fled North Waziristan owing to the operation against militants.
The Zarb-e-Azb operation was launched after militants’ attack on the Karachi airport last month, killing some 36 people, including 10 terrorists.
AFP adds: The Pakistan military has vowed to wipe out the strongholds which insurgents have used to mount countless deadly attacks in the recent years.
So far 399 militants and 20 soldiers have been killed in the offensive, according to the military. The area is off-limits to journalists and the number and identity of the dead is impossible to be verified.
The rugged mountainous area has been a hideout for years for Islamist militants of all stripes, including al Qaeda and the homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as well as foreign fighters like Uzbeks and Uighurs.
TWO IDPS GUNNED DOWN IN BANNU
Two internally displaced persons of North Waziristan Agency were killed while another got injured in two separate incidents in district Bannu on Tuesday.
In the first incident, one Noor Shahder was attacked by his rivals when he was returning back after getting relief items from Mamashkhel camp, in the limit of Cantt police station.
Local police said, the deceased man son of Qader Khan from Patti area of Miramshah, presently Domail.
He was on his way when the alleged attackers Zahir Khan, Madyun, sons of Aman residents of Patti Miramshah, opened indiscriminate fires at him.
The injured was rushed to the nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries before getting treatment. The killers managed to escape from the site. The police said that the reason behind the killing was some old enmity. The police registered a case against the accused and started further investigations.  
Meanwhile, in another incident in the same area another IDP Masood Khan, son of Mirqadam Khan from Spalgah, was gunned down by some unknown persons, while another person named Nasirud Din got injured. The alleged killers fled from the spot.
The police registered a case against unknown assailants and started further investigation.