The five-day military operation launched by Pakistan against suspected Al Qaeda hideouts in a remote region near Afghanistan ended Sunday evening. Some 55 people were killed in the operation, apart from 17 security personnel, Pakistan Army sources said.

Also see: Reports from Pakistan

The Army launched the operation last Wednesday, after foreign militants killed 15 securitymen near Shakai, some 350 km west of Islamabad.

In the five-day operation against the suspected terror hideouts, the Army had used artillery, helicopter gunships and jet fighters. While Pakistan believes the 55 suspected terrorists who were killed in the operation were terrorists, it did not disclose any identities beyond stating that some of those killed were foreign mercenaries. It was also not disclosed if those killed were members of the Al Qaeda.