Pakistani jets bombed militant hideouts in a lawless tribal district Saturday, killing scores of Uzbek and local insurgents in a massive ongoing offensive against the Taliban, the military said.

Air strikes were carried out at Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, and Boya village after shots were fired at troops, according to a statement.

"Five terrorists hideouts, caves and huge cache of arms and ammunition were destroyed and scores of terrorists killed in early morning strikes, silencing the firers," it said.

"Most of the terrorists killed in strikes were Uzbeks," the statement added without providing casualty figures.

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has had a large presence in Pakistan s tribal belt since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Last month Pakistan s military launched a long-awaited offensive in North Waziristan, aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.

More than 500,000 people have fled the area with tens of thousands of families have leaving for the town of Bannu, close to North Waziristan.