Afghan air strikes kill at least 15 militants, destroy hideouts in Kurram

At least 15 militants were killed and eight of their hideouts has been destroyed near the Pak-Afghan border area after cross-border mortar shelling targeted a security checkpost in upper Kurram Agency in Afghanistan.

Aerial strikes were conducted in the Alwara Mandi, Khar-Tangi and Maizer areas ahead of Datta Khel near North Waziristan,Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Security sources said unidentified militants from across the Afghan border fired the shells which landed near a Frontier Corps (FC) security checkpost, reports Dawn.

The region was claimed by the military to have been cleared of insurgents, however, militants still carry out sectarian attacks and also target security forces occasionally.

Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border.

The mortar attack on the border comes amid high tensions in the agencies as an indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Mohmand Agency after various clashes between militants and security forces.