LOC20:20
17:20 GMT
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (KUNA) -- At least two soldiers and nine militants were killed in two separate engagements in Pakistanآ’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), said the military on Saturday.
According to a statement by Pakistan militaryآ’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in Mohmand district of KPK, during which seven militants were killed after troops effectively engaged them at their location.
However, it confirmed that two soldiers of the Pakistan army rendered the ultimate sacrifice were killed during the intense fire exchange after having fought gallantly.
In another encounter that took place in the general area of Maddi in the Dera Ismail Khan district of KPK, security forces exchanged fire with militants, killing two of them, said ISPR.
It further said that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants who were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities. The military said that sanitization operations were being conducted to eliminate any other militants found in the area.
"Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country," it concluded.
Earlier on Thursday, the security operation for rescuing the hostages in the Pakistan train attack was completed, killing all 33 attackers to recover all passengers while leaving 21 passengers and four security personnel dead.
The operations come at a time when Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror attacks especially in KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan. (end)
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