ISLAMABAD: At least 40 suspected terrorists were killed, as Pakistani fighter jets bombed Taliban hideouts in the country’s northwestern North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions bordering Afghanistan on Thursday.

This came days after the government suspended talks with the group following execution style killings of 23 captive soldiers.

The air strikes were carried out after protracted consultations between the military leadership after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “The decision over the attacks on militant hideouts in North Waziristan was made after three consecutive days of meetings between the government and military leadership,” an official in the PM office said. “It was the only option to teach the Taliban a lesson.”

Local residents said the jets began pounding Taliban positions around noon and it continued for nearly two hours. They were aimed at hideouts of local, Uzbek and Tajik terrorists.

“There are confirmed reports of 35 militants including foreign fighters being killed in these air strikes,’’ said a military officer. “A huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been destroyed.”

He said the bombings were carried out with precision on the basis of credible intelligence. “There was no fear of collateral damage.’’

Sources said an improvised explosive device factory was also destroyed in the operation. They said terrorists involved in an attack on a Peshawar cinema and army major Jehanzeb’s killing in the city were targeted in their hideouts in Khyber Agency.

Defence minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif said all necessary steps would be taken to ensure safety of the citizens.

“Armed forces and security agencies will respond to acts of terrorism. In the last 17 days, 175 people had been killed in 40 attacks by militants and this was the reason why the air strikes were ordered,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Taliban said they were ready to observe ceasefire to allow resumption of peace talks, provided security forces stopped killing and arresting them.