23 killed as jets pound militant hideouts in Khyber Agency
April 24, 2014
The operation comes despite efforts by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government to engage the Taliban in talks to end years of fighting with an insurgency seeking to topple the democratically elected government in the capital Islamabad.
"Terrorist hideouts were engaged by fighter jets in Khyber agency early (in the) morning today," the army's press wing said in a text message sent to media.
Nine militants’ compounds were also destroyed during bombing by the fighter jets.
It said it was a response to a number of recent attacks against police and civilians in Islamabad and Peshawar.
A senior military official in Peshawar said the operation, which started early on Thursday, was still under way.
"After the jets, Pakistan army ground forces also launched operations in the area," he said.
Last week the Pakistani Taliban - a loose alliance of militant groups separate from but allied to the Afghan Taliban - formally ended a 40-day ceasefire but attempts to resume talks have continued nonetheless.
Representatives of both sides met in Islamabad on Wednesday, agreeing to pave the way for the next round of negotiations aimed at finding a compromise that would convince the Taliban to lay down their weapons.
