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Pakistan bombs militant hideouts in tribal areas Pakistan bombs militant hideouts in tribal areas
(about 5 hours later)
Pakistani fighter jets have launched air strikes on suspected militant hideouts in the north-west, killing at least 15 people, local officials say.Pakistani fighter jets have launched air strikes on suspected militant hideouts in the north-west, killing at least 15 people, local officials say.
The overnight raids focused on Mir Ali town and the surrounding areas of North Waziristan, reports say. Raids focused on Mir Ali town and surrounding areas of North Waziristan, but military sources said strikes were also carried out in the Khyber area.
The air strikes came with peace talks between government negotiators and Taliban militants stalled. Peace talks between Pakistani government negotiators and Taliban militants broke down earlier this week.
It also comes days after a Taliban group in a different area admitted to killing 23 paramilitary soldiers. On Sunday a Taliban-linked group said they killed 23 paramilitary soldiers.
"Air strikes were carried out to target militant hideouts with precision. A huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been destroyed," a Pakistani official was quoted by Agence-France Presse news agency as saying. Those killings and other violence in the past week caused the suspension of the talks, and triggered Thursday's raids.
Other reports quoted intelligence officials as saying that foreign fighters were among those killed in the air raids. "Air strikes were carried out to target militant hideouts with precision. A huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been destroyed," said a Pakistani official, according to Agence-France Presse news agency.
Militants based in the Mohmand tribal area said on Sunday that they killed the 23 soldiers, who had been held since 2010. Other reports quoted intelligence officials as saying that foreign fighters were among those killed in the North Waziristan air raids.
Khyber raid
Military sources later told the BBC that the overnight air strikes had been extended to the Bara region of Khyber district, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad reports.
There is no Taliban reaction yet, and no independent confirmation.
Casualty figures from the Khyber strikes are not yet known.
The source said that the air strikes targeted hideouts of militants who were allegedly involved in the grenade attacks at a Peshawar cinema house on 13 February, and the 18 February killing of a Pakistani army officer.
Militants based in the Mohmand tribal area said on Sunday that they killed the 23 soldiers, who had been abducted and held since 2010.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the reported deaths and said these would have a negative impact on current peace talks with the Taliban.Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the reported deaths and said these would have a negative impact on current peace talks with the Taliban.
Government negotiators called off a meeting scheduled for Monday following the reported killings.Government negotiators called off a meeting scheduled for Monday following the reported killings.
Pakistani jets also pounded militant hideouts in North Waziristan last month, following a wave attacks against security forces. Pakistani jets also carried out strikes on militant hideouts in North Waziristan last month, following a wave of attacks against security forces.