Islamabad, June 11 (NNN): Over 50 persons, including 14 Pakistani soldiers and more than 35 Al Qeada terror network activists were killed as the army raided terrorist hideouts in the tribal South Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan on Friday, according to reports reaching here this evening.
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Backed by artillery and helicopters troops are reported to have launched an assault on bases in South Waziristan early on Friday morning.

The operation comes after a group of tribesmen on Wednesday refused to hand over al-Qaeda and other militants.

Washington has been urging Pakistan to take action against the militants.

"As a result of the fire fight that ensued, the miscreants lost over 35 men, whereas the security forces lost 15. The government was left with no choice but to respond in order to establish its writ and eliminate these foreign elements," the Pakistan military said in a separate statement.

"Foreign elements" also occupied a compound and took some of the local population hostage, said the statement.

The army tried to flush out foreign militants in a major offensive to sweep up al-Qaeda suspects in March - that operation left more than 120 people dead. It was deemed a failure and the army switched to softer tactics, trying to persuade tribes people to hand over foreigners for registration. Thus far not a single militant has surrendered.