Pakistan's 36 airports on high alert over retaliation by militant groups

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Pakistan's 36 airports were placed on high alert Thursday, with security heightened because of concerns over retaliation by militant groups.

Earlier this week, Pakistani military forces began a ground offensive against the Taliban in North and South Waziristan, in which five soldiers and six Taliban members were reported killed.

Major airports, including Benazir Bhutto International Airport in the capital of Islamabad and the Nur Khan airbase at Chaklala in Punjab province have visibly heightened security. The alert notice was extended to all the country's airports. Temporary passes for visitors were cancelled, and those entering airports received extra questioning and searches.

The alerts came after Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan reported extensive progress against terrorism has been made. He said Monday that Pakistani terrorism has declined by 70 percent, crediting cooperation between the military and the government and a "National Action Plan" created nine months ago after a massacre at a Peshawar school.