25 terrorists killed in North Waziristan airstrikes: ISPR

Military authorities said on Thursday fighter jets of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had pounded sanctuaries of militants in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, killing 30 militants.

The conflict zone of North Waziristan is off-limits to journalists making it hard to verify the army’s claims, including the number and identity of those killed.

According to the ISPR, the military’s public relations wing, the airstrikes were carried out near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“Twenty five terrorist were killed today in precise aerial strikes in the area ahead of Datta Khel close to Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan agency”. Overall levels of militancy-linked violence have dropped dramatically this year.

Pakistan denies that and has accused Afghanistan and India of backing militants fighting the Pakistani government.

The brief capture of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz this week dealt a stinging blow to the country’s Nato-trained military and highlighted the insurgency’s potential to expand beyond its rural strongholds.

The two Taliban forces are allied but under separate commands and fighting for different objectives.

The military-led offensive was launched in June 2014 and officials say it has so far killed more than 3,500 militants, including foreigners while almost 400 soldiers also lost their lives.