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Pakistani fighter jets kill 38 Taliban militants

Iran Press TV

Sun Feb 23, 2014 5:5PM GMT

Pakistani fighter jets have bombed militant positions in the country's rugged northwestern tribal regions close to the border with Afghanistan, killing at least 38 militants and injuring several others.

Pakistani military aircraft pounded several militant hideouts in Tirah valley of the Khyber tribal district on Sunday.

It was the third attack by the Pakistani Air Force since February 20. Nearly 40 militants have been killed in the two previous air raids.

Pakistani military sources said several factories used to make improvised explosive devices (IED) and weapons were also destroyed in the strikes.

The strikes are conducted in retaliation for attacks by militants that have derailed peace talks. Earlier this week, Islamabad suspended talks with the militants following the execution of 23 captured soldiers.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif authorized the air strikes as series of militant attacks have killed dozens of people, including several security personnel over the past few days.

"After restraining the army for three days, the prime minister himself authorized the strikes last night," media outlets quoted a senior government official as saying, adding, "It was the only option to teach the Taliban a lesson."

The Pakistani premier initiated the talks last month in an attempt to end endemic violence in the militancy-riddled country.

Taliban's firebrand leaders have said the TTP sees no urgency to reach an agreement with Sharif's government.

The militants are highly active in Pakistan's tribal regions, which border neighboring Afghanistan. They want to overthrow the state institutions and impose Wahhabi laws across the militancy-riddled country.

Pakistan has been gripped by deadly violence since 2001, after Islamabad joined the so-called US war on terror. According to Pakistani authorities, nearly 50,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict.

JR/PR/SL