At least nine militants, including a high value target, were killed during a security operation in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan, said military on Thursday. According to Pakistan military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation on the reported presence of militants and effectively engaged the militant location in Bajaur district of KPK. The military confirmed that after intense exchange of fire nine militants, including two suicide bombers and a high-value target ringleader Said Muhammad alias, were killed. It further said that a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was recovered from killed militants, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians. "A sanitization operation was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists in the area," said ISPR. The security forces of Pakistan are determine d to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country, the military concluded. Earlier in the month, at least four militants were killed by security forces in two separate operations in KPK's Bannu and North Waziristan district. The security operations come at a time when Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror attacks especially in KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan. Source: Kuwait News Agency
