Pak security forces kill 14 militants

Pakistani security forces backed by jets pounded militant hide-outs near the Afghan border on Wednesday, killing at least 14 insurgents, a government official said.

Pakistani security forces backed by jets pounded militant hide-outs near the Afghan border on Wednesday, killing at least 14 insurgents, a government official said. Rasheed Khan said the military used ground forces and fighter jets during operations in the Orakzai tribal region and cleared out three militant strongholds. One soldier was wounded.

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The military has launched several recent offensives to clear Orakzai of insurgents. The region is located in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. Its remoteness makes it difficult to independently verify reported casualties.

Orakzai is the base of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who officials believe was killed in a US missile strike early this year. The group insists he is alive, but has not provided any evidence.