ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistan Army soldiers were killed on Thursday during an exchange of fire with militants in the country's northwest, the military's media wing said.
The Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces since November, when they unilaterally ended a months-long cease-fire with the country’s government. Last week, Islamabad was rocked by a powerful car bomb that detonated in a residential area, triggering fears of militancy returning to the country after years.
Earlier this month, Pakistani Taliban detainees at a counterterrorism center in the northwestern town of Bannu overpowered guards, confiscated police weapons and took hostages before Pakistani commandos stormed the compound and retook the facility.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said an exchange of fire between militants and army soldiers took place on Thursday at the Arawali area in the northwestern Kurram Agency.
"During intense exchange of fire, 2 x terrorists were killed," the ISPR said. "Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists."
The military said the slain militants were actively involved in attacks on security forces, adding that during the operation, three army soldiers were also killed.
Subedar Shuja Muhammad, 43, Naik Muhammad Ramzan, 32, and Sepoy Abdul Rehman, 30, were killed in the attack, ISPR said.
"Pakistan Army is determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," it added.
Amid an increase in militant attacks across the country, the army's top brass held a meeting on Wednesday and vowed to "fight against terrorists without any distinction and eliminate this menace" from the country.
