65 terrorists killed in Pakistan tribal regions

Islamabad: Pakistani army on Monday claimed that fighter jets bombed hideouts of the militants in two tribal regions and killed at least 65 terrorists.

Death toll of the militants killed reached 105 in two days, Geo TV citied an official statement.

The army said at least 50 terrorist were killed in a precise aerial strikes in Shawal and Gharlamai area of North Waziristan tribal agency in the afternoon.

"Reportedly terrorist's infrastructures in area which include ammunition dump are badly damaged," the statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

In separate incident 15 terrorists were killed in air strikes in mountainous Khyber Agency on Monday.

The air strikes were carried out in the Rajgal area of Khyber Agency near the Pakistan-Afghan border.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations, there are reports of two suicide bombers being killed in the strikes.

The security forces have increased bombing of the militants' positions following a suicide bombing that killed a minister in Punjab province and 18 other people on Sunday.

Pakistani military said fighter jets killed at least 40 militants in North Waziristan on Sunday. Thousands of troops are battling the Taliban and other armed groups in North Waziristan.

The military launched the major offensive in June last year and security officials said over 2,500 militants have so far been killed and over 90 percent of the areas were cleared from the militants.

Gen. Raheel Sharif, the army chief, who visited the region last month, said the operation code-named Zarb-e-Abab was in its final stage.

The security forces were also striking hideouts of the Taliban and Lashkar-e-Islam group in the strategic Tirah valley in Khyber agency.

The army has cleared many areas in Khyber agency, however, some militants were still hiding in the rugged mountains.

(IANS)