At least six soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with banned terrorists who attempted to attack a security forces’ post in the Thall district, Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. The security forces thwarted the attack.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations said that the security personnel killed three terrorists from outlawed Fitnal Khawarij, erstwhile TTP.

They were identified as Naib Subedar Muhammad Khaliq, Havaldar Jadid Ali, Lance Naik Shaheedur Rehman, Lance Naik Sifat Ullah, Sepoy Nizam Uddin, and Lance Naik Wilayat Hussain.

It was one of three separate engagements with the terrorists in the northwest province on Friday and Saturday. At least 22 terrorists were killed in such operations.

Pakistan has seen an increase in militancy since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, with the Pakistani chapter of the movement carrying out attacks mostly targeting security forces.

Earlier this month, a Frontier Corps captain and an army soldier were martyred in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu and Khyber districts.

The security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in the general area of Gul Imam, Tank district on the reported presence of Khwarij. At least nine terrorists were killed while six got injured in the operation.

In another operation in the North Waziristan district, the security forces killed at least 10 terrorists.

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“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji found in the area as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it said.

Last month, seven security personnel were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists who attempted to attack a security forces’ post in the general area of Shah-e-Mardan of the Kalat district in Balochistan.