60 militants killed in army air strikes

ISLAMABAD (AP):

Pakistani military jet fighters and helicopter gunships pounded militant hideouts near the Afghan border yesterday, killing 60 militants, the army said.

The air strikes mainly targeted Mir Ali, a town in the lawless tribal region of North Waziristan, the army said in a statement.

It said 60 terrorists, including some of the important commanders and foreigners, were also killed in the strikes, which also wounded another 30.

One resident, who identified himself as Saeedullah Khan, said the army had also been using artillery fire since early morning.

"We heard big bangs," he said. "I saw some houses flattened."

The army didn't give more details on the important commanders or the foreign who were killed.

The claims could not be independently verified. The lawless tribal area is off-limits to foreign journalists.

The army said investigation into recent attacks against civilians and security forces had led it to the militant hideouts that were targeted.