Islamabad, Oct 17 (DPA) Pakistani combat jets and helicopter gunships Friday targeted several positions held by Taliban militants in the lawless tribal region along Afghanistan's border, leaving at least 13 rebels dead, officials said.
'Militants' hideouts were pounded in Rashakai, Charmang and Kohi areas of Bajaur district, and some foreign fighters were among the killed,' a security official said on condition of anonymity.
The term 'foreign fighters' is used to refer to terrorists of Arab and Central Asian origin linked to Al Qaeda.
Fierce clashes erupted in Bajaur in early August when security forces moved into the area to take control of a strategic hilltop along the route used by insurgents to provide supplies to their colleagues fighting US-led international forces in the Afghan province of Kunar.
The fighting over the last two months have killed at least 1,000 rebels and more than two dozen troops. The number of civilian casualties is unknown.
More than 250,000 people have fled the fighting to safe places inside Pakistan. Additionally, more than 20,000 have fled to Kunar.
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