Pakistan army kills twenty Taliban militants

Islamabad

In a massive operation against Taliban the Pakistan army killed 20 militants in an airstrike in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.

The strikes took place in Khyber tribal district using artillery, mortars and ground troops. "Twenty terrorists including some of their important commanders were killed in precise aerial strikes in remote areas of Khyber today," the military said in a statement.

It added there were reports of about 18 militants injured in the strikes.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown Islamist insurgency for over a decade following the late 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The army began a major campaign against Taliban and other militant strongholds in the North Waziristan tribal area in June last year.

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.