Twenty-eight rebels were killed in Pakistan’s northwest with the Army helicopters and artillery attacking their hideouts in South Waziristan, ahead of a planned military offensive into the stronghold of top Taliban commanders.

Though the Army has been bombarding the fringes of Waziristan district for the past week, the military gave no clue of the timing of its new offensive into the area which has long been a safe haven for Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud. A military statement giving out details of the fighting in adjacent Dir, Swat and Buner districts made no mention of the new operation.

In view of terror threats, the authorities on Wednesday shut down the Peshawar airport for an indefinite period. The Civil Aviation Authority, however, cited “technical” reasons for its closure. Last week, 18 people, including a pilot of PIA were killed in a terror attack at Pearl Continental Hotel in the city.