Pakistan Fighter Jets Target Taliban Hideouts Near Afghan Border

Pakistani officials say its military has launched air strikes against suspected militant hideouts near the Afghan border, killing at least 12 suspected militants.

It's the first air operation against Taliban insurgents in two months.

The air strikes were staged on April 24 in the northwestern Khyber tribal district, where the Taliban and the banned militant group Lashkar-i-Islam are active.

Security officials said ground troops were also taking part in the operation.

The Pakistani Army said the strikes were in response to a number of recent attacks against police and civilians in Islamabad and Peshawar.

In the most recent incidents, at least seven people were killed in attacks in northwestern Pakistan on April 22.

The Pakistani Taliban formally ended a 40-day cease-fire last week, but efforts to resume peace talks continue.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP