The Pakistan military intensified Zarb-e-azab offensive launched in June last year in militants’ stronghold of North Waziristan, after the deadly Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in which 150 people, including 136 students, were killed.
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The military spokesman, Asim Bajwa, said last month that the forces have already completed the first phase of the ground offensive in Shawal area and the second is being planned to take control of the few pockets.
Maj Gen Bajwa said the army chief General Raheel Sharif has directed the security forces to achieve the objectives as soon as possible.
“These aerial attacks killed 43 militants, including 15 in Shawal and 28 in Datta Khel”, he said.
Pakistani fighter planes have been bombing militant hideouts in Shawal for almost a week, killing scores of insurgents, according to military officials. Now, after having removed large number of hideouts of militants from a large swathe, the authorities have vowed to boost operations both in the border regions and across the country.
The military said the militants were killed on August 20 in two villages within the North Waziristan tribal region.
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They also say more than 3,000 fighters have been killed while as many as 400 soldiers have also died during offensive-related activities.
