DHAKA: Pakistani military officials said the air force has bombarded the suspected hideouts of Taliban militants in tribal areas near the Afghan border, killing at least 27 militants.

Officials said on Tuesday the early-morning attack targeted areas of North and South Waziristan, in the fourth of a series of such attacks since February 20.

The air force has been carrying out these attacks since the breakdown of peace negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban earlier this month.

On Monday, Pakistani officials said gunmen killed a top Pakistani Taliban commander in North Waziristan, near the border with Afghanistan.

Asmatullah Shaheen died in a shootout Monday while travelling in the Darga Mandi area of North Waziristan.

Local officials blamed rival militants for his death, but no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Shaheen had served as interim chief of the Pakistani Taliban after a suspected US drone strike killed former chief Hakimullah Mehsud last year.

He was later replaced by the militants` current chief, Mullah Fazlullah.

Elsewhere in Pakistan, a suicide bombing outside the Iranian consulate in Peshawar killed two security guards and injured at least 10 other people.

Officials said the bomber was walking towards a checkpoint outside the mission when he detonated his explosive device, reports The Voice of America.

BDST: 1356 HRS, FEB 25, 2014