Pakistani jets hit militant hideouts, kill 15 in the North

At least 15 militants were killed on Thursday as Pakistani fighter jets bombarded militants' hideouts in three northern tribal regions tribal region bordering Afghanistan, said officials. According to security officials, the jets targeted militant hideouts in Dattakhel, Shawan, and Mir Ali Tehsil of North Waziristan tribal region. The security officials confirmed the killing of at least fifteen people and injury of many others. A number of militant hideouts and arms and ammunition were also destroyed in the air strikes. Some local media reports suggested that many of the killed militants were foreigners. Earlier on January 21, Pakistani fighter jets had pounded several suspected militant hideouts in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan agency killing over 40 militants including foreigners. North Waziristan is one of the seven regions in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) governed by tribal laws. The attack came just two days after the government's committee formed to hold talks with Pakistani Taliban demanded ceasefire from the militants to carry forward peace talks. The four-member committee formed to hold talks with negotiators representing the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said that the talks could not progress without any solid steps and also asked the Taliban to unconditionally cease all violent activities without any delay. The Taliban claimed to have killed 23 FC soldiers kidnapped from Shongari check post in the tribal region in 2010.