70 militants die in Pak air raid

Around 70 people, believed to be Taliban or Al Qaeda terrorists, were killed when Pakistan Air Force jets bombed a tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Thursday.

"Pakistan security forces launched precise strike on a foreign terrorist training camp in area Dila Khula of South Waziristan Agency, about 25 km northeast of Wana, and successfully knocked it out," defence spokesman Shaukat Sultan said in Islamabad.

Without mentioning the casualties he said the air raids were conducted after receiving confirmed reports on training camps being run by foreign elements including Uzbeks, Chechens and Arabs.

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"The

facility was successfully knocked out through a precisely targeted operation which lasted for about two hours this morning", Sultan said. "These trained terrorists were indulging in sabotage and terrorist acts in the country, as was revealed through investigations into the recent terrorist acts," he said.

Private Geo TV quoted defence officials as saying that some 70 people were killed when jets bombed the area. An unconfirmed report said Taliban militants were holding a meeting when the raid took place.

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