42名武装分子与巴基斯坦军方激战中被击毙
42 militants were killed and several others injured in two separate operations carried out by Pakistan army in the country's northwest tribal areas on Tuesday, local media reported.
Quoting unidentified military sources, Samaa TV said that in an overnight operation in the country's tribal area of North Waziristan, 19 suspected militants were killed when army helicopters pounded their hideouts in Mir Ali area.
In another operation in Toradarra area, Khyber Agency tribal area, 23 militants were killed and several others injured in bombardment by army helicopters.
Identities of the killed and injured militants have not been identified yet.
Tuesday's attack was launched at an intelligence tip off of presence of militants involved in Peshawar's church attack that killed 78 Christians and injured over 100 others.
Security sources said that the terrorists who masterminded Saturday's suicide attack on security forces in Bannu that killed over 20 troops, were also among the killed suspects in Tuesday's operation in Khyber Agency.
The army operation came after repeated suicide attacks by militants on security forces that killed 31 troops in the country's Bannu, Rawalpindi and Hangu areas.
Local watchers speculate that the army operation in the country 's restive northwest tribal area would further strain relation between government and Taliban militants who were heading towards peace talks.
