Pakistani forces kill 47 militants in airstrikes

Pakistani fighter jets Tuesday bombed hideouts of militants in two tribal regions killing 47 terrorists, the military said.

An army spokesman said 27 terrorists were killed in jet aircraft strikes in Mir Ali, a core town in North Waziristan, and surrounding areas Tuesday afternoon, Xinhua reported.

A total of 11 terrorist hideouts and huge cache of arms and ammunition were also destroyed.

The security forces have intensified airstrikes in North Waziristan after most of the residents have left their homes.

The official said that nearly 500,000 people have been evacuated from the region where the military launched a major offensive against the local and foreign militants this month.

The security forces earlier foiled a vehicle-borne suicide attack attempt in Spinwom area of North Waziristan Agency.

A single-cabin explosives-laden vehicle tried to approach a check post outside a civil hospital when soldiers on duty spotted and fired at the vehicle.

The vehicle exploded 100 metres short of the check post. Two two soldiers and a civilian were killed when the roof of a nearby building collapsed due to explosion.

The spokesman said 20 terrorists were also killed in early morning airstrikes on terrorists' hideouts in Khyber Agency and 12 of their hideouts were destroyed.

The army spokesman said the authorities have registered a total of 454,207 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Wazirastan.

Six ration distribution points have been established for IDPs at Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, the three main cities near the tribal region.

The army has established 32 relief goods collection points in all major cities of the country for collection of donations.