48 killed in air strikes in Pakistan

Islamabad, Aug 19: At least 48 militants were killed Tuesday in airstrikes in Pakistan's Khyber and North Waziristan tribal regions, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The strikes carried out in the Kokikhel area of Tirah Valley in Khyber and in the North Waziristan tribal area earlier in the day killed 18 suspected militants and destroyed seven suspected hideouts, Dawn online reported.

Later in the day, 30 more suspected militants were killed, nine vehicles and several motorcycles belonging to the suspected militants destroyed in fresh strikes carried out by the Pakistan Army's Cobra gunship helicopters in North Waziristan tribal region.

The strikes were part of the military operation Zarb-i-Azb that is under way in the North Waziristan tribal region.

The operation was launched June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Nearly a million people have fled from North Waziristan because of the offensive, which is aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.

IANS