Pakistan army kills 3,400 militants in 18 months long operation

Pakistan army today said 3,400 militants have been killed in the one and half year-long military operation launched to eliminate local and foreign militants from the country's restive tribal regions.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched in June last year after militants had attacked the international airport in Karachi, killing 26 people including airport security staff. Military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa said the operation Zarb-e-Azb has met "phenomenal successes" and last pockets of militants located near the Pak-Afghan border were being cleared.

Bajwa said terrorist's backbone was broken and their main infrastructure was dismantled. Thy nexus with sleeper cells were largely disrupted. He said Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) will continue to burst remaining sleeper cells.

"3,400 terrorists were killed, 837 hideouts from where they were carrying out their terrorists activities destroyed," he tweeted. He said that a total of 11 military courts were functional in the country where 142 cases were referred by the government.

He also said that 55 cases had been already decided while 87 cases were in process and 31 hardcore terrorists were convicted by the military courts. Bajwa said there was overall improvement in security and law and order due to the military operation, leading to celebration of various national events and achieving stability in the country.