By Xinhua,
Islamabad : At least 25 militants have been killed and 40 others detained in the ongoing military operation in northwestern Pakistan, media reports said Monday, citing top police officials.
The security forces flushed the militants out of 21 villages in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and took control of the vacated Machni town, Malik Naveed Khan, Inspector General of Police in provincial capital Pesawar, was quoted as saying by the Geo TV.
Briefing to a group of journalists brought to the area after an intensive operation, Khjan said at least 25 militants were killed during the two-week operation to secure the frontier city of Peshawar that sits on a key route for US and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
He called upon the people to extend their full cooperation in flushing the extremists out of these areas.
The journalists on the occasion were shown the arms and ammunition seized from militants’ possession during the operation.
The seized weapons include rocket launchers, mortar ammunition, explosive material and suicide jackets.
Pakistani troops have been battling Taliban militants in the tribal regions of the province that borders Afghanistan.