ISLAMABAD: Security forces gunned down six militants in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Wednesday, the army’s media wing said amid an uptick in violence in the country’s tribal areas. 

The development takes place hours after a suicide blast killed four, including two soldiers, in KP’s North Waziristan district, inviting sharp criticism from Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah. The minister vowed Pakistan would take “swift action” and hold to account militants for every loss of life in the country. 

Pakistan’s tribal areas have seen an increase in violence ever since the Pakistani Taliban and the state ended a fragile truce in November 2022. The Pakistani Taliban, emboldened by the return of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, have conducted several attacks on security forces this year. 

The latest operation against militants took place in South Waziristan district’s Kot Azam area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. 

“During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange occurred between security forces and terrorists, resulting in killing of 6 x terrorists,” the media’s military wing said. 

The ISPR said security forces recovered weapons and ammunition from the slain militants who “remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces” and extorted and targeted civilians as well. 

Wednesday’s suicide blast and operation against militants in Kot Azam takes place a day after Pakistani Taliban fighters stormed an energy plant in KP’s Hangu district, killing six persons.