RAWALPINDI: The military on Sunday claimed 27 militants were killed in air strikes targeting militant compounds in North Waziristan Agency.

A statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said 27 terrorists, including some of their important commanders and foreign fighters, were killed in precision strikes North Wazirstan's Dattakhel area.

The strikes are part of the military's ongoing militant clean-up operation in the restive tribal area, however as access to the agency is limited, there can be no independent verification of the information provided by the military.

The Pakistan Army says it has so far driven out suspected terrorists from “90 per cent” territory of North Waziristan Agency since the start of Operation Zarb-i-Azb in June.

A total of 1,198 terrorists have been killed and 356 injured since the operation was launched five months ago, Zarb-i-Azb Military Operation Commander Maj Gen Zafarullah Khan said on Saturday.

“So far an area of 2,708 square kilometres has been wrested back from the terrorists while the rest will be cleared as early as possible.”

Maj Gen Khan told reporters specially flown to Mirali and Miramshah for a briefing: “In an across-the-board military operation against foreign and local terrorists hiding in North Waziristan, we have also made major recoveries of weapons, am­munition, explosives, IEDs and their manufacturing facilities.”

Five soldiers killed in Datakhel clash: ISPR

At least five soldiers killed and many others were injured on Sunday in a clash between militants and security forces in Datakhel area of North Waziristan, ISPR said.

The ISPR confirmed that the dead also included one officer. Moreover, at least seven militants were killed in the clash.

North Waziristan holds strategic significance for militant groups as they connect the agency to the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Funeral of slain Major held in Peshawar

Meanwhile, the funeral of slain Army officer Major Wasif Shah, who had died with other security personnel in Dattakhel was offered in Peshawar.

Govenor Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Corp commander Peshawar Lt General Hidyatur Rehman, IG Frontier Corp Tayyub Azam along with other high ups attended the funeral.

Major Wasif Shah belonged to Village Sheikabad Dabagaran Manserha District.

The KP governor on the occasion said that the war against terrorism would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated from the region.