Pakistani helicopters pound militant hideouts in Waziristan

Pakistani military helicopter gunships have bombed militant positions in the country’s rugged northwestern tribal region close to the border with Afghanistan, killing at least two militants and injuring several others.

This comes after helicopter gunships destroyed several militants’ hideouts during the aerial attacks in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan.

The death toll is expected to rise as several militants are trapped under the rubble of destroyed hideouts, and those injured are said to be in critical condition.

The developments come as series of bomb explosions and militant attacks have killed dozens of people, including several security personnel over the past few days.

A deadly bomb explosion in the country’s northwestern Bannu region killed over two dozen security forces on last Sunday.

The Pakistani military has launched a series of sporadic offensives against militants in the country’s semiautonomous tribal region in the past few years.

Despite the Pakistani government’s operations against Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and associated groups, they have still been able to spread their influence in various regions and kill thousands of people.

Pro-Taliban militants have increased their attacks across Pakistan since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power in May. Pakistani government said it will use military action as a last resort to address the issues of extremism and militancy.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US on the so-called war against terrorism.