Eleven terrorists killed in Khyber Agency air strikes

An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said, eight terrorist hideouts close to Pakistan-Afghan border were also destroyed in the operation that was carried out in Babar Kachkol, Naray Nao, and Tor Sapar areas of the agency.

Earlier, at least 13 suspected terrorists were killed and six hideouts destroyed in military airstrikes in Tirah Valley today.

The strikes are part of a major offensive to clear Taliban and Al-Qaeda strongholds that began in 2014 in North Waziristan, one of seven Pakistani tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.

The military began an offensive in Khyber in October 2014, carrying out air strikes and using artillery, mortars and ground troops.

Overall levels of militancy-linked violence have dropped dramatically this year, with 2015 on course for the fewest deaths among civilian and security forces since 2007 — the year the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group was formed.

Pakistan has been battling Islamist groups in its semi-autonomous tribal belt since 2004 after its army entered the region to search for Al-Qaeda fighters who had fled across the border following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

North Waziristan is a major base for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban) as well as the Haqqani network which targets US and NATO forces across the border.