Pakistan Military Says 25 Militants Killed in Air Strikes

Pakistan's military said it killed 25 militants in air strikes on tribal regions near the Afghan border Wednesday as part of a major offensive against the Taliban and other insurgents.

The strikes took place in the Sanzila area of South Waziristan and Tirah in Khyber, the military said in a statement.

"In precise aerial strikes, 25 terrorists were killed and seven hideouts were destroyed," the statement added.

The conflict zone is off-limits to journalists, so there is no way to independently verify the number and identity of those killed.

Pakistan began a long-awaited push to clear insurgent bases from North Waziristan last June after a bloody Taliban attack on Karachi airport finally sank faltering peace talks.

Air strikes, artillery, mortars and ground troops have all been used to take back territory.

The semi-autonomous tribal areas on the Afghan border have for years been a hideout for Islamist militants of all stripes, including al-Qaida and the Pakistani Taliban as well as foreign fighters such as Uzbeks and Uighurs.