Islamabad - Pakistan's military said it killed 20 militants Saturday in air strikes on a tribal region near the Afghan border, as part of a major offensive against insurgents that began last year.
The attack took place near the Datta Khel area in North Waziristan tribal region.
"At least 20 terrorists were killed in aerial strikes," the military said in a statement, without giving the identity of those killed or who they fought for.
No militant group said it had been hit, but the area is a stronghold of both the Taliban and foreign militants linked to Al-Qaeda.
The conflict zone is off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of those killed.
Pakistan has been battling a home-grown Islamist insurgency for over a decade following the late 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
The army began a major campaign against Taliban and other militant strongholds in the North Waziristan tribal area in June last year.
Authorities have since vowed to intensify operations, using air strikes, artillery and mortars to take back territory both in the border regions and other parts of the country.
AFP
