ISLAMABAD

The Pakistan Army said Friday that at least 43 militants were killed during intelligence-based military operations in the country’s northwestern and southwestern provinces over the last five days.

At least 18 militants were killed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Lakki Marwat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army's media wing, said in a statement.

While 25 militants were killed in Balochistan province since Monday, it said, adding, "On 13 December, the security forces, after an intense fire exchange, successfully neutralized ten terrorists in two separate IBOs (intelligence-based operations) conducted in Musa Khel and Panjgur districts."

These operations will continue until peace is restored and terrorists are eliminated, as Pakistan's security forces are determined to eradicate the terrorism threat from the country, according to the statement.

Two security personnel were also killed during the operations, it added.

Last week, at least six Pakistani soldiers and 22 terrorists were killed in a clash and two military operations in northwestern Pakistan.

At least 245 people, including 68 security personnel, were killed in November in terrorist attacks and clashes across Pakistan.

Following recent attacks on forces in the Waziristan, Khyber, and Kurram tribal districts, the Pakistani military stepped up intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Islamabad claims that militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organization for various militant groups, are currently based in Afghanistan and carrying out terrorist attacks within Pakistan, while Kabul denies the accusation, claiming that Afghan soil would never be used for an attack in any other country.