The security forces have killed "a few" militants in operations to flush out al Qaeda-linked rebels in South Waziristan tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, the military said on Saturday.
"A few miscreants were killed and a few others injured when regular troops clashed with militants in Santoi, north of Shakai, in South Waziristan tribal region on Friday," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told AFP.
He did not specify the number of militants killed but said there were no military casualties.
Sultan said security forces retrieved the body of a foreign militant and recovered arms and ammunition.
"Some miscreants who were injured managed to get away," he said. "The activities are underway to flush out one of their hideouts, but this is not a new operation, it is part of an ongoing operation launched in June."
Shakai resident Rehman Wazir said he saw fighter jets and helicopter gunships hovering over the area and heard intermittent explosions on Saturday.
When asked whether air support was provided, Sultan said the forces were using "all necessary means."
The militants are believed holed up in the region of thick-mountain forest and high peaks.
The current hunt is focused on six most wanted militants. All are said to be al Qaeda operatives and among them is a Libyan, Abu Faraj Al Libbi, described as mastermind of two failed attempts to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf in December last year.
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