Pakistan Army statement claims three terrorist hideouts were targeted in Khyber Agency as part of Zarb-e-Azb.
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday claimed another 31 terrorists had been killed in Pakistan’s northern areas during the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in North Waziristan.
In a statement issued by the ISPR, the military said that in addition to the 20 terrorists killed in Khyber Agency, two explosives depots had also been destroyed in airstrikes. “Three terrorist hideouts were also pounded in the attack,” it added.
Juma Khan Afridi, a tribal force volunteer in the Koti Khel area of Khyber Agency, confirmed that aerial strikes had taken place. “Pakistani jets targeted the terrorist hideouts in the Dawa Toi, Wachay Wanay and Tor Darra villages of Koti Khel,” he said. “Compounds used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban (Geedar Group) were targeted and I personally saw the bodies of two TTP (Orakzai) members in the wreckage,” he added.
Separately, 11 terrorists were killed after they attacked a security checkpost in North Waziristan. “Terrorists entered [Pakistan] from Afghanistan and attacked the Spinwam checkpost,” said a military official on condition of anonymity. “Three Frontier Corps soldiers also died in the crossfire,” he added.
Last month, a senior intelligence officer said that the military had decided to include Khyber Agency’s Tirah Valley in Zarb-e-Azb, claiming that many TTP fighters had moved to the region to recover their losses. The military has claimed over 900 terrorists have been killed since Zarb-e-Azb started on June 15. In addition, 82 Pakistani soldiers have also been killed and another 269 injured.
In an interview with the BBC, ISPR director general Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said the Taliban had been dispersed and were reacting to the loss of a vital base. “Initially, they used to operate from a base where they would plot and carry out attacks from different parts of the country,” he added.