Fighter jets off to Fata
submitted 24 minutes ago
KHAR (Agencies) - Another 100 militants were killed Saturday in fierce fighting with government troops hunting Taliban fighters near the Afghan border, a security official said. Meanwhile, Pakistan Air Force has sent fighters jets to the tribal areas.
More than 200 militants have been killed since Thursday in different parts of Bajaur district, in an ongoing clampdown on Al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists hiding in the region.
“Scores of militants have been killed across Bajaur in the latest clashes,” the security official said, adding that helicopter gunships had destroyed several Taliban hideouts in the area.
Monitoring Desk adds: Pakistan Air Force on Saturday sent its fighter aircraft to the northwestern tribal region as the US-led coalition forces are increasing cross-border raids.
The fighter jets conducted flights in North Waziristan tribal region.
The coalition forces are increasing their missile and drone attacks on targets inside Pakistan in recent months, blaming local Taliban for rising insurgency in Afghanistan.
The attacks have also caused many civilian deaths and triggered mounting anger and criticism across the country. But Pakistan has repeatedly excluded the operation by foreign forces on its territory.
According to Iran's Press TV, Pakistan has ordered its jet fighters to confront any attack by the US-led coalition forces on the tribal belt.
Air force fighters have carried out sorties in the tribal region for the first time after US missiles attacks killed dozens of civilians, sources said on Saturday.
Air Force Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood, meanwhile, said that the Air Force could respond to violation of the country’s airspace if the government issued orders.
Tribal elders and witnesses in Miranshah told local news networks that they had seen Pakistani fighter planes hovering over North Waziristan. They had also seen warplanes flying towards the Afghan border area.
The Australian reported that the Pakistan Army has issued orders to retaliate against 'invading' US forces that enter the tribal areas of the country to attack militant targets. Corps Commanders issued the order on Friday night.
The 'retaliate and kill' order came amid reports of unprecedented fierce fighting in the Bajaur Agency.