PESHAWAR, Pakistan: A total of 19 militants including five of their commanders were killed in an intense exchange of fire with the security forces in the war-torn North Waziristan tribal region.
In a statement, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the clash took place last night in the region which borders Afghanistan.
The ISPR also said that seven soldiers were also killed as a result of a suicide blast in the area while the clash was continuing between the two sides.
“19 terrorists were killed including 5 of their commanders in an intense exchange of fire with security forces last night in uncleared pocket along NWA- Afgn Border. When being chased and cordoned, one terrorist exploded his suicide jacket, resultantly 7 soldiers embraced shahadat,” said a press release issued by the ISPR on Monday.
Since June 2014, a joint military offensive ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ is being conducted by Pakistan armed forces against various militant groups including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Haqqani network in North Waziristan agency as a renewed effort against militancy following an attack on Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.
