ISLAMABAD: At least 14 militants were killed Saturday in air strikes in northwest Pakistan near the Afghan border, the military said. The strikes targeted militant hideouts in Shawal area of the North Waziristan tribal region, where the army has been waging an offensive against the Taliban since June last year. “In precise air strikes in Shawal, 14 terrorists were killed today,” the military said in a statement. The death toll could not be independently verified as the conflict zone is remote and off-limits to journalists. Pakistan has been battling a homegrown insurgency for over a decade. Officials say more than 2,800 militants have been killed since the launch of the latest offensive. –AFP Our Wana correspondent adds: A soldier was killed and four others, including a captain, sustained injuries in an attack on the vehicle of the security forces in Ladha subdivision of South Waziristan Agency on late Saturday, sources said. The sources said that the security forces were patrolling in Ladha subdivision when they came under attack. A soldier was killed on the spot while four others, including a captain, were wounded. Following the attack, the security forces launched search operation in the area for the arrest of the attackers. The identity of the slain and injured soldiers could not be ascertained as they were moved to the security forces camp hospital.
