Pakistan: Army jets kill at least 30 suspected insurgents in tribal region near Afghan border

Pakistan: Troops kill 30 alleged militants in NW

PARACHINAR, Pakistan — Pakistani fighter jets bombed several militant hide-outs near the Afghan border Tuesday, killing at least 30 suspected insurgents, an official said.

The assault took place in Orakzai, a tribal region where many Pakistani Taliban fighters are believed to have fled to escape an army offensive further south. The military launched another operation in Orakzai last week, and nearly 150 alleged militants and five soldiers have died in gunbattles and airstrikes so far.

Local government official Sami Ullah said Tuesday that the troops were not facing much resistance.

“The security forces are using jets and ground forces to target militant positions,” Ullah said, detailing the latest casualties.

The remote, dangerous nature of the region makes it nearly impossible to verify the military and government accounts, and it is unclear how the authorities are distinguishing civilians from insurgents in the death tolls. Taliban commanders in the region could not immediately be reached for comment.

The U.S. has praised Pakistani efforts to root out militants, saying fighting extremists on Pakistan’s side of the porous border is key to winning the war against the related Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban have been under pressure in their main stronghold, the South Waziristan tribal region, since the army launched its ground offensive there in October. Since then, the nearby Orakzai, Kurram and North Waziristan tribal regions are believed to have become favored sanctuaries for militants fleeing South Waziristan.

Orakzai also is a major base for supporters of Hakimullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban’s top commander, who is believed to have died in a U.S. missile strike in January. The Taliban have denied Mehsud is dead, but have not shown any evidence he is still alive.