Airstrikes kill 18 militants in northern Pakistan

Eighteen militants were killed as Pakistani fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Sunday in northern tribal area bordering Afghanistan, said officials. According to security officials, the airstrikes targeted various hideouts in the Tirah valley of the Khyber Agency tribal region, killing militants and wounding many others. The airstrikes came a day after the gunship helicopters pounded the militants hideouts in Hangu Tehsil of northern Pakistan killing at least nine militants. Gunship helicopters shelled suspected militants positions in Tora Wari and Dar Samand areas of Tal destroying several hideouts of the militants. Khyber Agency is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal agencies facing militants insurgency and violence. Earlier on February 20, the Prime Minister of Pakistan gave an approval for the airstrikes in the tribal region after the dialogues with Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) failed.