The Pakistan army on Monday said 27 terrorists were killed in the military operation against Taliban militants, including foreigners, hiding in the North Waziristan tribal region along the Afghan border.

“Air force jets targeted six hideouts of the militants in Shawal area. In these precise strikes 27 terrorists were killed. There is no civil population in the area,” military spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said.

He said Sunday’s precision strikes in Degan-Boya in North Wazirastan were very successful in which 140 terrorists were killed.

Most of those killed are Uzbeks.

“Many East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) terrorists and their affiliates have also been killed in the strikes. It was a massive blow to the terrorists and one of their main communication centres has been dismantled,” he said.

He said seven terrorists were killed on the outskirts ofMirali last night in the codenamed Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

In a separate sniper action, Special Service Group killed three terrorists who were laying IEDs close to Miranshah. Bajwa said troops have cordoned off all terrorists bases, including the town of Mirali and Miranshah.

He said three soldiers were injured last night in exchange of fire with terrorists around Mirali.

Giving the details of the operation, he said that it was progressing as per plan. “No operation in civil populated areas has been started so far.

North Waziristan Agency has been isolated by deploying troops along its border with neighbouring agencies and FATA regions to block any move of terrorists in and out of the Agency,” he said.

The spokesman said that security has been beefed up all along Pak-Afghan border to nab terrorists fleeing the area.

The Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police have also been asked to seal the border on their side to facilitate elimination of terrorists fleeing across the border.

They have also been asked to initiate immediate measures to eliminate Pakistani Taliban terrorists and their sanctuaries in Kunar, Nuristan and other areas of Afghanistan.

Pakistan has also increased security in all major cities and towns and at sensitive installations across the country through the civil administration.