14 militants killed in Khyber Agency

At least 14 militants were killed and several others were injured when Pakistani fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Monday. Media reports quoting officials said that the action was taken on information the presence of kidnappers who took 21 personnel of Lavies forces hostage and later killed them. More than three hideout of the militants was destroyed in the shelling. Sources said that the militants killed in the security forces action belonged to banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A strategically important area, Tirah Valley borders Afghanistan and also connects to Bara, which then leads on to Peshawar. The valley has been under the influence of various militant factions, including Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), TTP, and Ansarul Islam, who constantly target each other over territorial disputes and sectarian differences, while the residents of the valley have limited contact with the outside world.