Updated on Saturday, September 13, 2008, 00:00 IST

Islamabad, Sept 13: Fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force on Saturday conducted patrols in the North Waziristan tribal region, where recent missile strikes by US drones from across the Afghan border have killed dozens.

A tribal elder in Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, told NNI news agency on phone that he saw Pakistani fighter jets hovering over the region.

"The people are very happy over the action by Pakistani aircraft in view of the frequent airspace violations by US spy planes," he said.

"I saw the fighter plane also flying towards the Afghan border area," the tribal elder said.

Earlier this week, Pakistan Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed had said that his force would respond to violations of the country's airspace by the US forces if the government issues orders to do so.

Chief military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abass said on Thursday that the army had been issued orders to react in case of any violation of Pakistani territory by Afghanistan-based US forces.

The US-led forces in Afghanistan have carried out a series of missile strikes in Waziristan, considered a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban led by commander Baitullah Mehsud.

The attacks have angered local resident as several women and children were killed.

Bureau Report