ISLAMABAD \u2014 Pakistan’s military said Saturday it had killed more than 2,700 militants since the launch of a major offensive near the Afghan border a year ago, with the latest air strikes leaving 20 dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The raid Saturday took place near the Datta Khel area in North Waziristan tribal region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“At least 20 terrorists were killed in aerial strikes,” the military said in a statement, without giving the identity of those killed or who they fought for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No militant group said it had been hit, but the area is a stronghold of both the Taliban and foreign militants linked to Al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conflict zone is off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of those killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The army began a major campaign against Taliban and other militant strongholds in North Waziristan in June last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the year since the launch of the operation, “so far, 2,763 terrorists killed, 837 hideouts destroyed,” military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said at least “218 hardcore terrorists” were killed and 347 officers and soldiers lost their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bajwa added that the operation had now moved to the last few pockets close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade following the late 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authorities have since vowed to intensify operations, using air strikes, artillery and mortars to take back territory both in the border regions and other parts of the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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