27 militants killed in Waziristan blitz, search operation

MIRANSHAH: Twenty-seven militants were killed in air strikes and a search operation in North and South Waziristan tribal agencies on Wednesday, official sources said.
The military authorities said 22 militants were killed and their sanctuaries destroyed when fighter aircraft pounded their positions in the Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Agency.
Security officials said the air strikes were conducted on the basis of intelligence information about the presence of militants and their local leadership in their sanctuaries in the remote mountainous Dattakhel area of the troubled tribal region.
Pleading anonymity, they said those killed included local and foreign fighters.According to security officials, the fighter aircraft targeted militants positions in Khar Tangi and Lowara Mandi areas of Dattakhel.
The air strikes took place only a day after the local Taliban militants in North Waziristan had issued pamphlets and warned the local residents not to return to their homes and villages or they would be responsible for their losses.
The militants said the situation in North Waziristan was not stable and, therefore, they should avoid returning to their native villages and towns.The government had launched a military offensive in North Waziristan on June 15, 2014 that displaced thousands of families.
The government recently announced to send back the displaced people to some of the areas reportedly cleared of militants.In Dattakhel, which is located near the Afghan border and considered a stronghold of the militants, Pakistani troops are yet to start a ground offensive. They are using fighter aircraft and artillery guns to fight the militants due to difficult terrain and mountains.
APP adds: In a cordon and search operation, five terrorists were killed by security forces in theShakto area of South Waziristan on Wednesday.According to the ISPR, the fleeing terrorists left behind four dead bodies.