65 suspected terrorists taken down in Zarb-e-Azb airstrikes

• 35 suspected militants killed in airstrikes in Dattakhel while 30 others were eliminated in airstrikes in Shawal Valley
• Gen Raheel Sharif says terrorists will be pursued even in remotest areas and all their sanctuaries will be taken out

Sixty-five suspected militants were killed in aerial strikes by fighter jets in the North Waziristan tribal region, the military said on Wednesday. The claims, however, could not be independently verified as journalists have limited access to the restive tribal agency.

A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations said, “Three terrorist hideouts were destroyed in precision strikes in the northwest of Dattakhel early on Wednesday killing 35 terrorists.”

Dattakhel is considered a stronghold for terrorists and a targeted clearance operation is under way in the area. More airstrikes may be carried out in and around Dattakhel which has also been a scene of numerous drone strikes in the past.

In another aerial strike in a village in Shawal valley of North Waziristan, 30 terrorists were killed and two hideouts were destroyed.

Air force jets carried out precision strikes after getting credible intelligence about presence of militants there.

The latest statement from the army comes as military operation Zarb-e-Azb is completing its third month. The operation was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on the Jinnah International Airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) negotiators.

The Taliban and their ethnic Uzbek allies both claimed responsibility for the attack on the airport which was seen as a strategic turning point in how Pakistan tackles the insurgency.

Nearly a million people have fled the offensive in North Waziristan and taken shelter at camps for the displaced.

TERRORISTS TO BE PURSUED IN REMOTEST AREAS:

Meanwhile, army chief General Raheel Sharif has said that terrorists will be pursued even in the remotest areas and all their sanctuaries will be taken out.

Gen Sharif made these remarks during a meeting with Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who called on him at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

“The two reviewed the progress of the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation and discussed conduct of future operations,” said a statement from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The spokesman said the air chief and the army chief vowed to employ all resources for a joint campaign plan in North Waziristan and ensure the success of the operation