Airstrikes in Pakistan kill Taliban fighters
September 28, 2014
A suspected US drone strike on Sunday killed at least two Islamist militants in the restive northwest of Pakistan, according to the country's military.
Local officials and Taliban militants said, however, that four suspected militants had been killed in South Waziristan, including two Arab militants and two locals, news agency AP reported. The number of casualties could not be verified, as the area has been off limits to journalists for years for security reasons.
The strike came hours after the Pakistan army carried out airstrikes against Taliban hideouts in North Waziristan, killing 21 militants, according to an unverified military report.
"In precise aerial strikes last night five terrorist hideouts were destroyed and 15 terrorists including foreigners were killed in Shawal area of North Waziristan Agency," news agency AFP quoted the military statement as reading.
The strikes in North and South Waziristan, which border Afghanistan and have long been safe havens for militants, are part of an offensive by Islamabad against Taliban and other Islamist militants.
The military offensive was launched mid June after a June 10 attack on Karachi airport, carried out by the Taliban, which killed at least 28 people.
According to figures provided by Pakistan's military, over 1,000 militants and 86 soldiers have been killed in the offensive so far.
sb,tj (AP, AFP, dpa)