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1st LD Writethru: 38 militants killed in army airstrikes in NW Pakistan

Xinhua, January 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 38 militants were killed when Pakistani army launched airstrikes in the country's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan on Friday, local media reported.

Urdu TV channel Dawn said the military backed by jet fighters pounded five hideouts of the militants in Shawal and Datta Khel towns of North Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal region along Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Identities of the killed militants have not been revealed, but the area is believed to be a hotbed of the outlawed group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan's activity.

Friday's airstrikes are continuation of a military operation in North Waziristan, which was launched on June 15, 2014, aiming at eradication of local and foreign militants from the region.

Earlier in December, Asim Bajwa, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations, the army's media wing, said a total of 3,400 militants have been killed in the operation so far.

He said the military has also destroyed 837 hideouts of the militants.

The director general said the operation in Shawal town is the final push against militants as the offensive has entered its final stage after most of the areas in North Waziristan have been cleared of the insurgents. Enditem