20 militants killed in airstrikes in Pakistan

Islamabad: At least 20 militants were killed in airstrikes in two separate areas of Khyber Agency in Pakistan's northwest tribal regions on Saturday, defence officials said.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets pounded a number of militants' hideouts in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, killing at least five insurgents and injuring several others.

In a separate airstrike, 15 militants were killed and several hideouts destroyed in Rajgal area of the agency, a semi-autonomous tribal area along Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The recent strikes were part of the army's ongoing Khyber operation.

Launched in October last year, the Khyber Operation aims at the eradication of the militancy from the Khyber Agency which is considered a hotbed of Taliban militants.

According to local media tally, over 500 militants have been killed and more than 400 surrendered in the operation which was conducted in two phases - operation Khyber 1 and operation Khyber 2.