Pakistani forces kill 44 militants in tribal regions

Pakistani fighter jets Saturday bombed positions of the armed groups in two tribal regions killing 44 militants including foreigners, the army said.

An army spokesman said fighter planes bombed hideouts of the militants in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions.

"As many as 44 terrorists were killed in precise aerial strikes in North Wazirastan and Khyber agencies today," the spokesman said in a statement.

According to details, out of 44 killed, 14 (mostly foreigners) were killed in area ahead of Datta Khel in North Waziristan and 30 terrorists killed in Tirah valley of Khyber.

The security forces are battling the Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Islam group in Khyber agency in a major offensive code name "Khyber-2." Forces have cleared many areas from the militants in Khyber agency that borders Afghanistan.

Officials believed that militants have sneaked into Tirah Valley after they escaped from other tribal areas in the wake of military operations.

The army also launched a big operation in North Waziristan last year in June and has cleared over 90 percent of areas. North Waziristan had once been the stronghold of the Taliban and other militant groups but many have been killed and some have crossed into Afghanistan, security officials said.