Nine Taliban militants killed in airstrikes in Pak

Nine pro-Taliban militants, including a key commander, were killed when gunship helicopters pounded rebel hideouts in Pakistan’s restive Mohmand tribal region on Thursday.

The gunship helicopters targeted militant hideouts in several areas of Mohmand Agency, including Bahadar Killi in Suran Valley, Jarobai Dara and Gulmain, a spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps said.

Nine militants were killed in the air strikes. Seven vehicles and five motorcycles were also destroyed during the attacks.

Meanwhile, a grand

jirga or council of the Halimzai tribe decided that it will not allow militants to use territory inhabited by the tribal for unlawful activities. The jirga also said the tribe is committed to take action against militants.

The Frontier Corps spokesman also said a jirga formed under the supervision of officials of Kurram tribal region had been successful in brokering a ceasefire between rival Sunni and Shia tribesmen in Bughdi area.

Scores of people have died in clashes between the rival tribes in Kurram Agency over the past two years.

Authorities in the Khyber tribal region near Peshawar arrested a man and seized a vehicle that contained four machine guns, 10 pistols and a significant amount of RDX explosives.