Militants killed in air strikes in NW Pakistan

Updated on : 23-02-2014 09:12 PM

Pakistani combat jets carried out air strikes in the restive northwestern Khyber tribal region on Sunday, killing 38 terrorists, including some important commanders, days after the government called off a peace process with the Taliban.

The strikes were carried out early Sunday morning in which 38 terrorists are believed to have been killed while many were injured, security sources said.  "IEDs making factory and a huge quantity of explosives were destroyed in strikes," a military source said.  The attacks came a day after the air strikes in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in which nine terrorists were killed.  The military has gone on an offensive and has carried out air strikes in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency killing over 40 suspected terrorist in last week.  The air strikes were carried out following a joint decision taken by the military and civilian leadership.  The precision bombardment was part of surgical strikes which sources said should not be taken as a full-fledged military operation.  The government has been trying to engage the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and others in peace talks to end the decade-long insurgency that has claimed about 40,000 lives.  The TTP, an umbrella grouping of numerous militant factions, has been waging a bloody battle against the Pakistani state since 2007.  However, the peace process suffered a setback after a Taliban faction beheaded 23 paramilitary personnel abducted in 2010.  Government negotiators have set a ceasefire as a precondition for another round of talks but Shahidullah Shahid, the spokesperson for the TTP, has blamed Islamabad for the deadlock and asked the state to declare a ceasefire first.  The military leadership took the civilian government into confidence, citing potential threats from terrorists holed up in their safe havens in the tribal belt.  The sources said the air strikes were aimed at protecting the people as militants were making plans to carry out attacks.  10 killed in blast in northwest Pakistan  At least ten people, including a child, were killed and 14 others injured in a bomb blast in northwest Pakistan's Kohat city on Sunday.  The blast took place in the Peshawar Chowk area near the Police Lines. Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, Nasir Khan Durrani said the blast took place near a passenger vehicle.  He said the blast appeared to have been carried out using a planted explosive device.  Durrani said that according to initial reports, five kilograms of explosives were used in the blast which were planted in a wooden crate placed on the roadside. The explosives were detonated as a passenger vehicle reached Peshawar Chowk.  The attack came hours after Pakistan Air Force jets bombed militant hideouts in the tribal area of Khyber killing at least 20 suspected terrorists.