Pakistani planes and ground forces have killed 39 militants as part of a continuing operation in a volatile tribal region near the Afghan border.

The air strikes were carried out in the Datta Khel area of the North Waziristan tribal region, an army statement said, adding that a tunnel system and a large cache of weapons and ammunition were destroyed.

The military claimed important militant commanders were among the dead, and said Pakistani troops had also ambushed militants on the border between the Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions, killing 16.