Islamabad, Pakistan (BBN) – At least 48 people including 35 Taliban militants were killed in fresh clashes in the country’s northwestern tribal region on Monday.

Pakistani security forces started deploying fighter planes and gunship helicopters for launching offensive on the hideouts of the militants in Bajaur tribal agency, a known haunt of Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, local reports said.

Thirteen members of a family were killed when a mortar shell landed on a residential house in the tribal zone, according to the reports.

Pakistan started its operations in Bajaur on Wednesday when the militants ambushed an army vehicle.

On Sunday, Pakistani military officials said that nine soldiers and 100 militants had been killed in four days of fighting in Bajaur tribal region near the Afghan border.

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