21 militants killed in NW Pakistan

Peshawar, Mar 8: At least 21 terrorists were killed in fresh air strikes when Pakistani fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in Shawal Valley, a mountainous area in North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan.

"Operations continue. Important heights & passes along Pak-Afghan Border secured. Valley's sanitisation in progress," Asim Bajwa, DG Inter-Services Public Relations Twitted.

"21 terrorists were killed last night when military jets pounded militant hideouts in Shawal valley of North Waziristan as operations continue," Bajwa said.

"Combined with strikes by Pakistan Air Force & Combat Army Aviation, ground force continue hunt for fleeing terrorists through chase,cordon and search op-1," he said.

Pakistan began its operation to clear Taliban and Al-Qaeda strongholds in North Waziristan in 2014, and claims to have killed more than 3,750 militants since then with no civilian casualties.

Zarb-e-Azb military campaign was launched in June last year after militants had attacked the international airport in Karachi, killing 26 people including airport security staff. In late February the army said it was entering the final phase of the operation.

PTI