Kuwait city: At least 34 militants were killed by security forces in multiple engagements in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said military on Thursday.
According to Kuwait News Agency, a press release by Pakistan military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) detailed that, based on reported presence of militants, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in the general area of Spinwam in North Waziristan tribal district. During this operation, security forces effectively engaged the militants' location, resulting in an intense exchange of fire where 18 militants were confirmed killed, as reported by ISPR.
Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in the South Waziristan tribal district of KPK. In the ensuing exchange of fire, eight militants were neutralized, the military added. In a third encounter that took place in the Bannu District of the province, security forces successfully neutralized eight more militants.
President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement, lauded the armed forces and security agencies for successfully carrying out the counterterrorism operations. He mentioned that the timely actions of the security forces have improved the peace and stability situation in the country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, also commended the security forces for killing 34 militants, emphasizing that "the counter-terrorism campaign will continue with full vigor until the complete eradication of the menace of terrorism from the country."
These security operations come at a time when Pakistan is witnessing a rise in terror attacks, especially in the KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan.