At least seven Pakistani security personnel were killed and 13 others wounded during a search-and-strike operation against terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to security sources, the incident occurred in a mountainous area under local police jurisdiction, where "terrorists" ambushed a security convoy, sparking a fierce gun battle. One soldier remains missing.

The injured personnel were transported to a nearby hospital, while a large police contingent remained at the scene as the operation continued. Authorities reported that security forces inflicted “significant losses” on the attackers, though details on the number of casualties were not immediately disclosed.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both lauded the security forces for their courage and professionalism.

Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to eliminate terrorism, saying the sacrifices of security personnel would not go in vain.

Prime Minister Sharif praised the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Mohmand, North Waziristan, and Bannu districts, emphasizing that the fight against terrorism would continue until it is completely eradicated from the country.

The development came a day after the Pakistan Army announced that it had killed 19 suspected terrorists in separate intelligence-based operations across the country’s northwest over the past two days.

Security analysts say the recent wave of operations underscores Islamabad’s resolve to tackle militancy and restore peace in the restive border regions. (ILKHA)