Pakistan air strikes in an eastern border region of Afghanistan killed 46 civilians, the Taliban government said Wednesday, whilst a Pakistan security official said the bombardment had targeted "terrorist hideouts".

"Killing children, killing women and the elderly is not bravery. It is not courage to destroy people's homes," he said.

On Wednesday, the Pakistani military said security forces killed 13 insurgents in an overnight operation in an intelligence-based operation in South Waziristan.