Islamabad- Pakistan's military claimed Tuesday to have killed at least 50 Islamic militants during a security operation in country's restive north-west region.

The offensive in Darra Adamkhel, a known market for locally produced weapons and a stronghold of Taliban insurgents, was launched on Monday to re-take control over a strategic road tunnel linking Peshawar, capital of North West Frontier Province, with the central and southern parts of the country.

"The operation met success and security forces took over Kohat tunnel and adjacent areas. Troops are currently clearing Darra bazaar and area around it from miscreants," an army spokesman Major Murad Khan told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

He said artillery and helicopter gunships were pounding Taliban's hideouts. "More than 50 miscreants have been killed so far while one soldier embraced shahdat
(martyrdom.)"

The fighting in Darra Adamkhel, a semi-tribal area about 15 kilometres south of Peshawar, erupted in late August after rebels carried out a failed suicide car bombing on a paramilitary camp in the area to avenge the arrest of one of their commanders.

Two civilians were killed and 30 others, including 20 paramilitary Frontier Corps troops, were wounded when the vehicle blew up after being fired upon by the soldiers.

Later on the rebels took over the Kohat tunnel and closed the traffic along Indus Highway. (dpa)