Islamabad: Pakistani military said on Sunday that 252 militants have been killed and 160 injured over the past two months in the final phase of anti-terrorist operations in Shawwal valley of North Waziristan tribal region.
Eight soldiers have been killed and 39 injured in the fighting in Shawwal, it said.
The security forces have cleared 640 square kilometres of so far uncontrolled area in the valley along the border with Afghanistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.
“Major terrorist hubs in the areas of Mania, Gurbaz, Lataka, Inzarkas and Magrotai in Shawwal have been cleared of militants,” the statement said.
The battle to clear the last pocket of militants close to the Pakistan-Afghan border continues, it said, adding that all heights over 9,000 feet have been cleared.
Since the beginning of the military operation in June 2014, security forces have cleared 4,304 sq km in North Waziristan.
The security forces have restored writ of the government in all areas, specially in remote pockets of the seven Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the northwest, the statement said.
More than 37,000 displaced families have returned to their homes in North Waziristan, it said.
Around 94 development projects have been completed in North Waziristan and work is under way on 153 other projects.
A significant decline in terror attacks in Pakistan has been reported as a result of the military offensive against militant hideouts in the tribal areas.
