Islamabad, Apr. 29 : The Pakistan Army on Wednesday launched an areal offensive on the Taliban in Buner district.

The Pakistan army is said to be on its final leg of operations in Buner. So far, 70 Taliban fighters have been killed in the intensive offensive.

North western Buner district is about 100 kilometers from Islamabad.

Television reports said army troops are being parachuted onto strategic heights in different areas of Buner District of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) to flush the militants out of the region.

The Pakistan Army launched an operation in Buner district on Tuesday afternoon. Major General Athar Abbas, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) told reporters on Tuesday that the militants would be cleared from the region within a week.

Major General Abbas said some 450 to 500 militants are present in different parts of Buner district.

The Taliban entered Buner district from the restive Swat valley earlier this month and set up check points and patrolled the area.

The Taliban had promised to withdraw from Buner after talks with the NWFP government. (ANI)