ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Saturday security forces had killed eight militants during an operation in the northwestern district of Dera Ismail Khan, amid a surge in terror attacks in the country in recent weeks. 

Pakistan has stepped up operations around the country as it faces a growing threat from militants, who last week attacked a convoy of Chinese workers, killing five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver. No group has as yet claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing, though most attacks in the country’s northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan are carried out by the Pakistan Taliban group.

“On 5 April 24, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in Dera Ismail Khan District on reported presence of terrorists,” the army said in a statement.

“During the conduct of operation, after an intense fire exchange, eight Terrorists were sent to hell.”

The military said weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered during the operation against militants who had “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and target killing of innocent civilians.”

“Sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area as the security forces are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country,” the army said. 

Last Tuesday’s incident was the third major attack in little over a week on China’s interests in the South Asian nation, where Beijing has invested more than $65 billion in energy, infrastructure and other projects as part of its wider Belt and Road initiative.