Pakistan army says it killed 31 militants in security operations

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least 31 militants were killed in two separate security operations in northwestern Pakistan over the past two days, the country’s military said on Monday.

The militants were killed across northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sept. 13-14, an army statement said.

Some 14 militants were killed in Lakki Marwat district, while another 17 were killed in adjoining Bannu district.

The latest operations came days after 12 army troops and 35 militants were killed in separate clashes across the province last week.

Pakistani security forces have been grappling with a spate of terrorist attacks over the past few years, for which Islamabad accuses "Afghanistan-based" militants loyal to Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan, a consortium of several outlawed outfits in the country.

Kabul denies the accusation.