Pakistan Army gunship helicopters carried out air strikes in Khyber tribal region today, killing five suspected terrorists a day after the Taliban announced a month-long truce to facilitate the resumption of a stalled peace process.
Military sources said the helicopters struck the headquarters of Mullah Tamanche, whose group was allegedly involved in an attack on polio vaccinators in Khyber Agency yesterday that killed 12 security personnel and a child.
The main centre of Tamanche in Bara area was destroyed and five suspected militants were killed, the sources said.
Hours after the air strikes, state negotiator Rustam Shah Mohmand said the Taliban had declared the ceasefire following a demand from the government and authorities should reciprocate by announcing a truce.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Shahidullah Shahid announced a month-long ceasefire and appealed to militants "to respect the decision and refrain from any activity during this period".
The ceasefire was welcomed by the government, and Irfan Siddiqui, the head of the state negotiators, told PTI: "This is a happy and positive development. We are hopeful that the dialogue process will move ahead. "
The government recently suspended the peace process with the TTP after a militant faction executed 23 troops abducted in 2010.
