PESHAWAR: At least 11 terrorists and three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers were killed as a militant attack from across the border was thwarted by Pakistani security forces in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that a group of terrorists from the Afghan side of the border attacked Dandi Kuch in the Spinwam area of NWA. Pakistani troops repulsed the attack, killing 11 terrorists while arresting one.

Security forces also recovered bodies of three terrorists. During the gun-battle, at least three FC soldiers lost their lives.

Air strikes kill 20 militants in Khyber Agency

At least 20 militants were killed and five hideouts were destroyed during air strikes carried out by jet fighters on Tuesday morning in Khyber Agency, sources said.

According to sources, the strikes targeted Tor Dara, Tirah, Jatoi and Rajgal areas of the Agency.

They added that a number of militant hideouts have been destroyed and several casualties are feared due to the air strikes.

Khyber is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous regions governed by tribal laws and the belt lies near the Afghan border. The Taliban and other Al Qaeda-linked groups, who stage attacks in both countries, are known to have strongholds in the zone.

The army had launched an all-out military named Zarb-i-Azb on June 15 against local and foreign militants in North Waziristan.

Earlier, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement had put the official number of “terrorists” killed in Operation Zarb-i-Azb at 910 and said that 82 Pakistani soldiers had also lost their lives during the North Waziristan offensive.

However, this information could not be independently verified as the access of media is restricted in the region.