Seven militants killed in shootout in northwest Pakistan — army

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Wednesday it had conducted an “intelligence-based operation” in northwestern Pakistan, triggering a shootout that killed seven militants.
The shootout happened in the Kiri Machan Khel area of Tank District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said in a statement.
“On night 14/15 November 23, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation … on reported presence of terrorists,” the army said.
“During conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists, as a result of which seven terrorists were sent to hell.”
The army said “terrorists hideouts” were also busted during the operation and weapons and ammunition were recovered.
No group has as yet claimed it was involved in the shootout but most attacks in this area are carried out by the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP — a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban who in August 2021 seized Afghanistan as US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.
Islamabad says the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has emboldened the Pakistani Taliban who have stepped up attacks against police and troops across the country since last November when the group called off a tenuous truce with the government. 
The Afghan Taliban deny they allow Afghan soil to be used by militants.