Rajgal, where the army offensive took place is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal districts where the military has been fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants for over a decade.
“The operation was conducted in areas close to Afghan border in which 11 terrorists were also injured,” the military said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Inter Services Public Relations in a statement announced to launch an operation along the Pak-Afghan border to effectively check and guard against terrorist movement along high mountains and all weather passes in Khyber Agency.
Director General ISPR General Asim Bajwa tweeted:
Op along Pak-afgan Border in Rajgal Valley in high mountain passes in Khyber Agency.9 hide outs destroyed through aerial strikes&ground op-1
— Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 16, 2016
Large dumps/terrorist dens hit precisely.Treacherous terrain. Resolute action Will reduce cross bdr move of terrorist-2 — Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) August 16, 2016
Pakistan has been battling a homegrown insurgency since 2004, following the US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001 and the subsequent spillover of militants into its territory.
The army launched the “Zarb-e-Azb” operation in June 2014 in a bid to wipe out militant bases in North Waziristan tribal area and so bring an end to the bloody insurgency that has cost thousands of civilian lives.
Security in the country has since improved. Scattered attacks still take place, but they are fewer and of a lesser intensity than in previous years.
