27 militants killed, six soldiers martyred in North Waziristan

At least 27 more terrorists were killed on Monday during Operation 'Zarb-e-Azb', after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets destroyed six terrorist hideouts in Shawal in the North Waziristan Agency.

Six Pakistan Army soldiers were also martyred and three others were injured in a landmine blast in North Waziristan tribal region, military said.

The landmine blast took place in the Ghulam Khan area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the Daily Times quoted

an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, as saying.

The military has formally launched the operation "Zarb-e-Azb" in North Waziristan tribal region to crush militants, involved in spreading terrorism and carrying out terror activities in the country.

At least 140 militants have been killed in air strikes by Pakistan Air Force jet fighters since Sunday. Those killed include Uzbek terrorists along with some local and foreign militants.

A statement released by the ISPR claimed there was no civilian population in the area.

The ISPR said that the operation in North Waziristan is progressing as per plan, and added that North Waziristan Agency has been isolated by deploying troops along the border with neighbouring agencies and FATA regions to block movement of terrorists in and out of the agency.

All identified terrorist bases, including Mirali and Miranshah have been cordoned off, the ISPR statement said.

The Afghan National Army and the Afghan Border Police have also been requested to seal the border on their side to facilitate the elimination of the terrorists fleeing across the border.