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Pakistan has announced the suspension of military operations against Islamist militants in the country's northwest during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to allow civilians to observe the religious festival.

Head of Pakistan's Interior Ministry Rehman Malik said Saturday there will be no military operations in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan from Sunday midnight until October second. He warned, however, that security forces will respond with full force if attacked.

The announcement came a day after Pakistan's army said it had killed at least 40 militants in an air strike on militant hideouts in the troubled Swat Valley.

In a separate incident Saturday, a missile hit a house in the semi-autonomous tribal region of South Waziristan, killing at least five people.

An army spokesman (Major Murad Khan) said he was aware of the explosion, but could not confirm whether it was caused by a missile.