Twenty-three militants were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations carried out by security forces in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 19, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation was launched after reports of militant presence in the area. Security personnel “effectively engaged the location” during an intense exchange of fire, killing 12 militants.

The statement added that a second operation was conducted in the same general vicinity based on fresh intelligence. Troops “successfully neutralised” another group of militants, eliminating 11 more.

ISPR said sanitisation efforts were under way to clear the area of any remaining threats, adding that counterterrorism operations would continue with full momentum.

The statement reaffirmed that the ongoing campaign, being pursued under the vision of “Azm-e-Istehkam” approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, aims to eliminate “foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism” from the country.