20 militants killed in Pakistan

At least 20 militants were killed today after their hideouts were pounded in aerial strikes carried out by Pakistani fighter jets in the country's restive northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

The air strikes were conducted in Rajgal and Tirah areas of Khyber district, one of the seven tribal districts.

A security official said 15 militants were killed Rajgal and another five in Tirah.

The identity of the killed militants was not known but the area is infested with militants linked to the Lashkar-e-Islami group led by Mangal Bagh, who is an ally of Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Khyber, a once fully militant-controlled region, today is mostly a cleared district due to repeated military operations.
 

However, parts of Tirah on the Afghan border are reportedly still frequented by Taliban militants who easily cross into Afghanistan and return to launch attacks on Pakistani security forces.

Pakistan launched Zarb-e-Azb operation last year and so far over 3,000 militants have been killed.