KARACHI, Pakistan

Four army troops were among nine people killed in a clash Thursday with militants in northwest Pakistan, according to the military.

The army said five militants were also killed.

The clash occurred in the South Waziristan tribal district, which sits near the Afghanistan border. There has been no respite in the surge of terror attacks Pakistan has been grappling with for more than two years.

"Sanitization operation is 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," the military said in a statement.

Pakistan has endured 785 militant attacks during the first 10 months of 2024, resulting in 951 deaths and 966 injuries, reflecting a persistently high level of violence across the country, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank.

Though terror attacks and bombings have dropped in Pakistan, October emerged as the second-deadliest month of the year as fatalities rose to 198.​​​​​​​

The fatalities included 98 terrorists, 62 security personnel and 38 civilians.