Pakistan military uses local made drone against militants

Pakistani forces Monday started using its own spy aircraft to target the hideouts of the militants in North Waziristan tribal region, the military said.

The security forces battling the Taliban in the region have so far used fighter jets and gunships to hit the militants.

Pakistan military spokesman Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa said the country's homemade drone was used for the first time in North Waziristan and a strike killed 3 militants.

"1st ever use of Pak made Burraq Drone today. Hit a terrorist compound in Shawal Valley (North Waziristan), killing 3 high profile terrorists," the spokesman said on his Twitter account. The region had been focused of the U.S. drone strikes that also caused some rift between the U.S. and Pakistan.

In June last year, Pakistan launched a major offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and foreign militants, who had been using North Waziristan as a major operational base for attacks in the country and across the border into Afghanistan.

A parliamentary committee was informed last week that nearly 3, 500 militants have been killed in the region so far. Up to 300 Pakistani security men have also lost lives.

The army chief General Raheel Sharif told the country's defense day function late Sunday that the operation codenamed "Zarb-e-Azb" was started at a time when the chaotic forces were challenging the state of Pakistan and law and order situation in the country was at its lowest ebb. Endi