Pakistan strikes hideout

Pakistani security forces backed by helicopter gunships struck a militant hideout yesterday in a tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, killing or wounding at least 25 militants, an official said.

The militants had entered Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region after a raid inside Afghanistan. Syed Zaheerul Islam, the Government's top administrator in the region, said that between 25 and 30 militants were killed or wounded in the raid.