Gunship Helicopters Pound Militant Hideouts In NW Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan 28, IRNA - At least two persons were killed in a blitz carried out by Pakistanˈs military in northwestern tribal region on Monday, local media reported. Military gunship helicopters shelled suspected militant hideouts in North Waziristan region, killing two persons and wounding several others. The identity of the victims and the number of casualties could not be independently verified as the access of media is restricted in the region. North Waziristan is one of the seven regions in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) governed by tribal laws. An extremist insurgency led by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) plagues the region and the area is known to be infested with militants, including those from al- Qaeda and other armed extremist organizations. The region, which lies along the Pak-Afghan border, also frequently comes under attacks from US drones which target militant hideouts in the area. Meanwhile, a policeman was killed and four others injured Monday when an explosion targeted a police vehicle in Tank district, officials confirmed./end