By Xinhua,
ISLAMABAD : At least 16 militants were killed and many injured, in an exchange of fire with security forces in northwestern Pakistan in the last twenty four hours, the Pakistani military said Sunday.
Security forces continued their clearance operation in Charbagh in the Swat valley and engaged suspected hideouts of militants, said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.
The security forces have consolidated their hold over Charbagh which was considered to be a stronghold of the hardened militants, it said.
The statement also said that a patrolling party of the security forces was fired upon and during exchange of fire one security forces personnel was killed and two others were wounded. During a search operation security forces arrested five suspected militants, it added.
Meanwhile, one police constable was also shot dead by militants after abduction from his home last night, according to the statement.
The security forces have called upon the masses at large that they should join hands with them in order to stem the menace of militancy and put the valley on the path of progress, development and prosperity, according to the military statement.