3 militants, 4 security officials killed in clashes in northwest Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – The Pakistan Army and counter-terrorism police killed three militants in a joint operation in the country's northwestern province on Wednesday, the military said.

The clashes erupted during an intelligence-based operation on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, also resulted in the deaths of two Pakistan Army personnel, including a captain, and as many officers from the Counter Terrorism Department, the Pakistan Army's media wing said in a statement.

With the latest terrorism casualties, the total number of people killed in terror-related incidents in July reached 33, including 14 security personnel, nine militants, and eight civilians.

The latest skirmish occurred a day after five army soldiers, including a captain, were killed in the restive North Waziristan and South Waziristan tribal districts, which border Afghanistan.

"During the conduct of the operation, after an intense exchange of fire, three terrorists including HVT (high-value target) terrorist commander Abdul Raheem were sent to hell," the military statement said.

The slain so-called commander was involved in "numerous" terrorist activities, including the killing of two army personnel in May, it added.

Terrorist attacks have increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's border areas since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved and announced a "reinvigorated" national counter-terrorism campaign last month to "eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country," known as Azm-e-Istehkam, or determination for durability.

In the latest report from Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), at least 60 people were killed in 69 terror attacks, including 33 security personnel and 26 civilians last month.

Pakistan saw 478 militant attacks from January to June, resulting in 474 deaths and 539 injuries, according to PICSS records.