Islamabad, Aug 21 (IANS): Pakistani troops have launched a ground operation against militants hiding in the mountains of Waziristan tribal region, a media report said on Friday.

Taliban militants, who had fled urban areas in Waziristan, moved to the inaccessible mountains to avoid air strikes, Xinhua reported.

Fighter jets have killed nearly 200 militants in Shawal mountains in a final push to clear the whole region.

On Thursday, air strikes killed 43 militants in Shawal and the nearby Gharlamai area, the army said.

"The Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif directs achievement of military objectives as soon as possible," army spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said.

Pakistan forces launched the long-awaited major offensive in Waziristan in June last year and have killed nearly 3,000 militants so far.

The operation was launched against the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and several other groups, including the Haqqani network and remnants of al-Qaeda who had been using the region as their main bases.