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| Pakistani Airstrikes Kill Suspected Militants in Tribal Areas | Pakistani Airstrikes Kill Suspected Militants in Tribal Areas |
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| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistani fighter jets pounded Taliban hide-outs in the country’s northwestern tribal regions in overnight raids into Thursday, and security officials said that at least 35 people suspected of being militants, including several foreign fighters, had been killed. | |
| The strikes came within days of the suspension of peace talks between the government and Taliban representatives. On Monday, the government said it could not go ahead with the talks unless the militants announced a cease-fire and stopped their attacks on security forces. | The strikes came within days of the suspension of peace talks between the government and Taliban representatives. On Monday, the government said it could not go ahead with the talks unless the militants announced a cease-fire and stopped their attacks on security forces. |
| However, it was not immediately clear if the raids by the Pakistani Air Force signaled the beginning of a full-fledged offensive against the Taliban in North Waziristan, the rugged tribal region that has been a haven for Taliban and Qaeda militants operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. | However, it was not immediately clear if the raids by the Pakistani Air Force signaled the beginning of a full-fledged offensive against the Taliban in North Waziristan, the rugged tribal region that has been a haven for Taliban and Qaeda militants operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. |
| A security official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the airstrikes were in retaliation for recent attacks by the militants. "The government will not tolerate any attacks while the talks process is underway,” the official said. | |
| The overnight raids, which started Wednesday night and lasted an hour, were directed at villages in the Mir Ali district of North Waziristan, according to the security official. Those killed included both Pakistani and Uzbek fighters, the official said. However, the claim could not be independently verified. | The overnight raids, which started Wednesday night and lasted an hour, were directed at villages in the Mir Ali district of North Waziristan, according to the security official. Those killed included both Pakistani and Uzbek fighters, the official said. However, the claim could not be independently verified. |
| On Sunday, a Taliban faction said it had killed 23 paramilitary soldiers in captivity, dealing a sharp blow to the already faltering peace talks between the government and militants. The paramilitary soldiers, belonging to the Frontier Corps, had been in captivity since 2010. | On Sunday, a Taliban faction said it had killed 23 paramilitary soldiers in captivity, dealing a sharp blow to the already faltering peace talks between the government and militants. The paramilitary soldiers, belonging to the Frontier Corps, had been in captivity since 2010. |
| And, on Tuesday, a Pakistani Army major was killed in a gun battle with militants near Peshawar, the provincial capital of restive Khyber-Pakhtoonkwa Province. | And, on Tuesday, a Pakistani Army major was killed in a gun battle with militants near Peshawar, the provincial capital of restive Khyber-Pakhtoonkwa Province. |
| Pakistani officials say 460 people — including 114 soldiers and 38 police officers — have been killed countrywide in violence related to militant activity in the last five months as the government has tried to engage the insurgents in peace talks. The figures were released to local news media outlets on Wednesday in an apparent effort to counter Taliban propaganda. | Pakistani officials say 460 people — including 114 soldiers and 38 police officers — have been killed countrywide in violence related to militant activity in the last five months as the government has tried to engage the insurgents in peace talks. The figures were released to local news media outlets on Wednesday in an apparent effort to counter Taliban propaganda. |
| The Taliban leadership has defended its attacks by accusing the Pakistani military of killing Taliban prisoners in custody. The Pakistani military denies the allegations. | The Taliban leadership has defended its attacks by accusing the Pakistani military of killing Taliban prisoners in custody. The Pakistani military denies the allegations. |
| The spike in militant violence has resulted in increased political and public pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to rethink his strategy of engaging in dialogue with the Taliban insurgents. | The spike in militant violence has resulted in increased political and public pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to rethink his strategy of engaging in dialogue with the Taliban insurgents. |
| Mr. Sharif had announced plans to hold peace talks on Jan. 29, a move that caught many by surprise, as the Pakistani civil and military leadership had been indicating that preparations were afoot for a military offensive in North Waziristan. | Mr. Sharif had announced plans to hold peace talks on Jan. 29, a move that caught many by surprise, as the Pakistani civil and military leadership had been indicating that preparations were afoot for a military offensive in North Waziristan. |