KARACHI, Pakistan 

An officer was among three Pakistan army soldiers killed in a clash with suspected militants in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, the military said. 

Eight militants were also killed during the operation by military.

The clash, latest in a series of similar incidents in recent months, occurred in the outskirts of the Bannu district of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the army said in a statement, adding that the deceased soldiers included a major-rank officer.

Pakistan has seen an uptick in terrorist attacks in recent months, for which it blames "Afghanistan-based" militants loyal to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Kabul denies its soil is being used against any of its neighbors.

In October alone, dozens of people, including security personnel, have been killed in a string of terrorist attacks and clashes in southwestern Balochistan and KP provinces.