ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed three militants in the Bannu district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and recovered weapons and ammunition from the scene, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday.
The development comes days after militants attacked a vehicle of security forces in Bara area of the Khyber district, killing two soldiers.
According to the military’s media wing, the three militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO).
“During the conduct of the operation, fierce fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said in a statement.
“The killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and the killing of innocent citizens.”
Pakistan has witnessed scores of such attacks in recent months in the restive northwest, most of which have been claimed by the Pakistani Taliban or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group has been emboldened by the Taliban resurgence in neighboring Afghanistan, where Pakistani militants are still believed to be hiding.
The military said officials recovered weapons and ammunition from the scene.
“Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the area,” the ISPR added.
