In Pakistan, 40 militants have been killed in air strikes in the northwest tribal areas. A Peshawar based report says that fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in the lawless Mir Ali area of North Waziristan Agency, killing the militants including many foreigners.

Air strikes which started late Wednesday night, were also carried out in Khyber Agency. A factory, making explosives and IEDs was reportedly destroyed in the area.

The strikes came soon after the government suspended talks with the Taliban after militants executed 23 Pakistani soldiers.

Meanwhile, at least eight people were also killed yesterday in separate incidents of violence and target killings in Karachi.