KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistani security forces killed 21 militants in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday morning, officials claimed.
Airstrikes in the North Waziristan tribal region killed 17 militants according to the Pakistan army's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations.
Another four militants from the Taliban-linked Lashkar-e-Islam group were killed, and six injured, in clashes with security forces, a senior military official said, on condition of anonymity. The clashes were in the Akhakel area of the Tirah valley, which sits on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Tirah valley has become a stronghold for militants who have fled the army's ongoing anti-militant operation in the nearby North Waziristan tribal area. There have now been more than 1450 militants killed since the beginning of the operation on June 15.
The army has shifted its focus from North Waziristan onto Khyber Agency since mid-October.
More than 100 soldiers have also been killed in clashes and landmine blasts since the operation began.
The military operations have already forced over a million tribesmen from North Waziristan and Khyber Agency to the adjacent Peshawar, Bannu, Karak, and Lakki Marwat districts.
www.aa.com.tr/en
