47 militants killed as Pakistan continues offensive

Islamabad: Pakistan’s military said 47 more militants were killed on Tuesday in the ongoing operation in the northwestern tribal region while two soldiers died during an attempted suicide attack on a security checkpoint.

The overall toll of militants killed in the operation, launched in North Waziristan on June 15, has now gone up to 332 and the army has lost eight soldiers to date.

A military statement said 27 militants were killed in jet aircraft strikes in Mir Ali area and surroundings and 11 militant hideouts were destroyed. A huge cache of arms was also destroyed.

Another 20 militants were killed in early morning air strikes on terrorist’s hideouts in tribal Khyber Agency area and 12 militant hideouts were destroyed.

The statement said a vehicle suicide attack attempt was foiled in Spinwam area of North Waziristan Agency in the afternoon.

The driver of a single cabin explosive-laden vehicle tried to approach a checkpoint outside a civil hospital, when soldiers on duty spotted and fired at the vehicle.

The vehicle exploded 100 metres short of the checkpoint and two soldiers and a civilian died when the roof of a nearby building collapsed due to the explosion, the statement said.

The number of civilians displaced from North Waziristan and registered by authorities has increased to 454,207 people or 36,514 families.

Six ration distribution points have been established for the displaced people in Khyber Pakthunkhwa province, three at Bannu, two at DI Khan and one at Tank.

Some 32 relief goods collection points have been established by the army in all major cities of the country for collection of donations.