Seven militants and a Pakistani officer killed in security operation in northwestern Pakistan

Islamabad, Aug 8 (KUNA) -- The Pakistani army announced on Saturday the killing of seven militants and an army officer during a security operation based on intelligence in the Hangu area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest of the country.

In a statement, the Pakistani army’s media wing said security forces carried out the operation after receiving information about the presence of militants in the area, adding that troops clashed with the militants, who took refuge in a mosque during the confrontations.

The statement clarified that the clashes resulted in the death of seven militants, while Captain Hamza Akram, who was leading the force participating in the operation, was also killed. It noted that weapons and ammunition were seized from the militants, whom the army accused of being involved in attacks targeting security forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilians.

It added that security forces continued search operations in the area to track down any other armed elements, reaffirming the continuation of the counter-terrorism campaign to eradicate what it described as “foreign-backed terrorism.”

In a related development, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in separate statements, expressed their condolences over the death of Captain Hamza Akram and praised his bravery, while also commending the security forces for killing seven militants during the operation.

This operation comes as Pakistan witnesses an escalation in armed attacks, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan.

The Pakistani army had announced on Friday the killing of ten militants in two separate operations in the South Waziristan and Dir areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. (End) S.B.K / M.N.F