Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, received in Riyadh Wedensday the oldest Pakistani Officer of the Armed Forces Brigadier Mohammed Jawid Ashraf who came to greet him, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The audience was attended by Acting Director General of Defense Minister Office Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Issa.

Prince Salman has also sent a cable of condolences to President Memnon Hussein of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the victims of the terrorist attack where Taliban fighters on Tuesday massacred 148 people, including 135 students at an army-run school,

In his cable, the Crown Prince said: “I have learned in severe pain about the news of the terrorist incident, which took place in one of the Army's school in your sisterly country and resulted in victims and the injured. As I strongly condemn these terrorist criminal acts, I express to your Excellency, the families of the victims, and the brotherly people of Pakistan our condolences, praying to Allah Almighty for a speedy recovery for the injured, and to protect sisterly Pakistan from any harm.”

Meanwhile, Pakistani Forces have intensified their offensive against extremist militants, killing 57 rebels in fresh airstrikes and moving ground troops deep into their strongholds, dpa cited the military as saying Thursday.

Fighter jets bombed 20 militant hideouts in Khyber tribal district, which borders Peshawar city, a military statement said.

Ground troops also moved deeper into Tirah valley, a mountainous stretch near the Afghan border where various militant groups linked with al-Qaeda have long established sanctuaries, the statement said.

Source: SPA; dpa