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Islamabad: Pakistani forces killed 24 militants as artillery and jet fighters supported ground troops fighting in the Bajaur tribal region on the Afghan border, a paramilitary spokesman said on Thursday.
Nato forces have launched "Operation Lionheart" recently to put pressure along the Afghan side of the border across from Bajaur and squeeze the Taliban and Al Qaida militants into areas where they can be attacked more easily.
The latest clashes erupted in parts of Mamond and Nawagai districts of Bajaur overnight.
"Twenty-four militants, including 11 foreign fighters, probably Uzbeks, and a local commander have been killed in exchanges of fire with security forces in the last 24 hours," a spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps said.
Pakistani troops are also battling militants in the northwestern valley of Swat, and there is widespread expectation the next offensive will target the Mohmand tribal region.
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