Four militants, one soldier killed in security operation in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, April 17 (KUNA) -- At least one soldier and four "terrorists" were killed during a security operation in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province bordering Afghanistan, said the military.
The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in general area Maddi of Dera Ismail Khan district in KPK on the reported presence of militants, Pakistan military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.
During the operation, security forces effectively engaged the militants' location, as a result of which four militants and an army soldier were killed, the ISPR confirmed.
The military further said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed militant, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area. Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other militant found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve, it concluded.
President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have commended the security forces for their successful operation against terrorists in DI Khan. In their separate messages, both appreciated the security forces for killing four militants in the operation. Both prayed for the higher ranks of martyrs and commiserated with the bereaved family. The President said that security forces' operations will continue till the complete eradication of terrorism. Last week, at least nine militants, including a ringleader, were killed by security forces in an operation in KPK. The security operations coincide with a rise in terror attacks across Pakistan, especially in KPK and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan. (end) sbk.gb