Updated on Saturday, July 04, 2009, 19:13 IST

Islamabad, July 04: At least 31 people, including 19 Taliban militants, were killed in fresh violence in Pakistan's troubled northwest on Saturday as fighter jets pounded terrorist hideouts in a tribal region where a military chopper crash claimed the lives of 26 security personnel.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter which crashed yesterday at Sarah Ghari in Orakzai Agency, about 20 km from the northwestern city of Peshawar.

The army has dismissed the Taliban claims, saying the chopper went down due to a "technical fault". Official sources said all 26 security personnel on board were killed.

Media reports said the helicopter was fired upon by militants after it crashed.

An operation was launched in Orakzai Agency by the security forces soon afterwards, with fighter jets and helicopter gunships targeting Taliban positions destroying three hideouts and killing 12 militants, media reported.

In the nearby Mohmand Agency, seven militants and 12 members of a 'lashkar' or tribal militia were killed in clashes last night. The fighting broke out after the Taliban attacked the homes of the lashkar members.

Seventeen lashkar members were reported missing after the clashes and it is feared that they had been kidnapped by the militants.

Bureau Report