ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani soldiers were killed in an exchange of fire with militants in the country's restive northwest, the Pakistani military said on Monday, adding the gun battle killed two militants as well.
The gunfight took place in Spinwam area of the North Waziristan tribal district, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military's media wing.
As a consequence, two militants were killed and another two were apprehended, it added.
"However, during intense exchange of fire, Sepoy lmran Ullah (age 25 years, resident of District Bajaur) and Sepoy Afzal Khan (age 21 years, resident of District Upper Dir), having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat (martyrdom)," the ISPR said in a statement.
"Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens."
The military said a "sanitization" operation was ongoing in the vicinity to purge it of militants.
Militant violence has increased in Pakistan in recent months, particularly after the Pakistani Taliban, or the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), called off a fragile, months-long truce with the government in November last year.
The group has since mounted attacks against police and security forces in Pakistan's northwestern and southwestern regions that border Afghanistan and Iran. The TTP is a separate group but shares a common lineage and ideals with the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistani officials have lately asked the Afghan Taliban to rein in militant groups operating on the Afghan soil and intensified counter-insurgency efforts in the country.
