Pakistan fighter jets bomb ‘Taliban hideouts’
At least 60 people dead, with reports of some civilian casualties, as army targets key commanders in North Waziristan.
Pakistani fighter planes have bombed suspected ‘Taliban hideouts’ in the tribal region of North Waziristan, killing at least 60 people, the military said.
“Air strikes were carried out on terrorist’s hideouts in North Waziristan Agency, this morning,” the military said on Wednesday.
“As per reports so far, 60 hardcore terrorists including some of the important commanders and foreigners were also killed in the strikes and around 30 were injured.”
Al Jazeera’s Asad Hashim, reporting from Islamabad, said local sources confirmed the strikes were carried out in Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, and the Mir Ali, Datta Khel and Ghulam Khan areas.
“Local sources say there have been reports of civilian casualties as well, but since there is a curfew, it is impossible to verify the numbers at this time,” he said.
The aerial strikes come three days after the Pakistan Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah released a video in which he vowed that his group’s fight would continue until either the imposition of Islamic law across Pakistan, or the martyrdom of its fighters.
In the video released on Sunday, Fazlullah called upon his group’s suicide bombers and fighters to prepare themselves to take on the army.
The latest attack comes weeks after the Pakistani Taliban formally ended a ceasefire called to promote talks with the government aimed at ending a seven-year insurgency.