DHAKA: At least 120 suspected militants were killed in North Waziristan tribal region during the 'Zarb-e-Azb' operation where as several compounds were also destroyed.

A day ago, the Pakistan Army launched a comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists who were hiding in sanctuaries in North Waziristan tribal region, a week after the brazen insurgent attack on the country's busiest airport in Karachi.

“The operation had been named Zarb-e-Azb,” said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement on Sunday.

The all important announcement came after overnight air strikes by Pakistani jets that killed more than 50 foreign militants, mostly Uzbeks, in North Waziristan.

Strikes took place in the Boya tehsil, Degan forests and Datta Khel tehsil of North Waziristan.

After the announcement of the full-scale operation in the North Waziristan area, a security official on ground said that thousands of troops have been moved for action, media reported.

Local security officials put the death toll far higher, saying that about 150 militants died in the air strikes, which primarily targeted Uzbek militants in a remote area of the tribal agency.

Among the dead were insurgents linked to last Monday's all-night siege of Karachi airport that killed 38 people, including 10 attackers, and all but destroyed a tentative peace process between the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government.

Pressure had been mounting on the government to launch a ground offensive in the Taliban-infested North Waziristan tribal district.

Following the brazen assault in Karachi, the US carried out two drone strikes in North Waziristan on Wednesday, the first time the controversial programme has been used this year.

The same day, air force jets pounded suspected militant hideouts, leaving at least 25 dead.

Source: dawn.com

BDST: 1109 HRS, JUN 16, 2014