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Pakistani forces blew up a militant leader's headquarters and pounded other suspected Taleban bases with mortar fire, as authorities launched a major offensive against gunmen operating in the volatile region along the Afghan border.
The offensive in the Khyber tribal region appeared to be a shift in strategy by Pakistan's new Government, backing its calls for peace deals in the tribal areas with the threat of forceful action against militants who get out of line.
The United States has said such deals give militants the freedom to regroup for attacks on US and Nato forces in Afghanistan.
