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Pakistani military officials say Pakistani fighter jets and troops have
killed at least nine militants, as they target insurgent hideouts
throughout the country's northwest.
Authorities
say airstrikes destroyed a stronghold run by Taliban commander Hakim
Ullah in the Orakzai tribal agency Saturday, but it is not clear if
Ullah was present at the time. At least six militants were killed.
Ullah
is a top deputy to Pakistani Taliban chief, Baitullah Mehsud, who is
blamed for scores of attacks against government and civilian targets.
Mehsud is also believed to be a key ally for al-Qaida fighters in
Pakistan.
The military said Saturday troops also killed at least
three militants during a search operation in Swat Valley. One soldier
was killed by a roadside bomb in the Bannu area.
The Pakistani government's offensive against Taliban insurgents in the northwest has displaced more than two million people.
Humanitarian workers have been providing aid to displaced people.
Pakistani officials said Friday at least 10,000 refugees have returned to their homes in Swat Valley in recent days.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
