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Pakistan air strikes 'kill 32' Pakistan strikes kill 32 militants in North Waziristan
(about 2 hours later)
Air strikes in Pakistan have killed at least 32 militants in North Waziristan including "important commanders". Pakistan says it has killed 32 militants in North Waziristan in the deadliest air strikes in months, throwing peace talks into doubt.
Officials described precision air strikes on targets near the border with Afghanistan. The military said in a statement the dead included "important commanders" although it did not specify who.
Tens of thousands of Pakistanis have died in bomb attacks since the Pakistani Taliban began its campaign against the central government in 2007. Local residents in the Mir Ali area described hearing huge explosions after helicopters and jets flew overhead in the early hours.
Several offensives have been launched against the militants, but the government is also pursuing talks. North Waziristan is a stronghold of Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants.
"Before the launch of the air strikes, we had confirmed intelligence information about hideouts of the militants and their top commanders," said a senior military official in Miranshah quoted by the Reuters news agency. It is one of seven lawless tribal agencies, but the army have pushed the militants out of their bases in most of the other ones.
The army said in a statement that the strikes were targeting militants involved in attacks against Pakistani armed forces and Pakistani soldiers. The government has been pursuing peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, but the country's powerful military remains hesitant about the move.
'Huge explosions'
Senior military officials said Wednesday's air strikes were launched after they had "confirmed intelligence information about hideouts of the militants and their top commanders".
Although they did not name the targeted commanders, officials said the strikes were aimed at those involved in recent attacks against Pakistani armed forces and Pakistani soldiers.
At least nine soldiers were killed and several critically wounded by a roadside bomb in the region earlier this month.At least nine soldiers were killed and several critically wounded by a roadside bomb in the region earlier this month.
It is not possible to confirm the details of Wednesday's attacks because independent media are unable to access North Waziristan.
But local residents reported dozens of homes being flattened.
"It was around 3 am in the morning when I heard huge explosions," tribesman Naseeb Gul told Reuters news agency by telephone.
"I saw four helicopters flying over the area and hitting some villages."
There have been similar air strikes since the beginning of the year, but this operation appears to have been the largest in a while, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas from Islamabad.There have been similar air strikes since the beginning of the year, but this operation appears to have been the largest in a while, reports the BBC's Kim Ghattas from Islamabad.
North Waziristan, one of seven lawless tribal districts in Pakistan's north-west, is a stronghold of Taliban and al-Qaeda linked militants. She says it will further complicate efforts by the government to pursue peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.
The peace talks between the government and the Pakistani Taliban stalled after one round of negotiations in February, and a 40-day ceasefire between the two sides came to an end in mid-April. The process stalled after one round of negotiations in February, and a 40-day ceasefire between the two sides came to an end in mid-April.
Tens of thousands of Pakistanis have been killed since the Pakistani Taliban began their insurgency against the state in 2007.