Airstrikes kill 15 militants in south Waziristan

At least 15 suspected militants were killed on Saturday during air strikes conducted by Pakistan military fighter jets in south Waziristan. Official sources told Dawn that at least 15 suspected militants were killed after jets targeted four positions in the restive Maisar area of Dattakhel Tehsil. According to official statements, over 3,500 militants have been killed in operation Zarb-e-Azb, while the offensive forced over a million civilians to vacate their homes and move to settled areas of the country. Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif ordered troops to march on the last bastion of terrorists in Shawal valley of North Waziristan to take operation Zarb-i-Azb to its logical end. The region was claimed by the military to have been cleared of insurgents during an operation a couple of years ago, however, militants still carry out sectarian attacks and also target security forces occasionally. The mortar attack on the border comes amid high tensions in the agencies. Yesterday, an indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Mohmand Agency after various clashes between militants and security forces, which left nine khasadars dead last week.