Islamabad (Pakistan), 15 November (H.S.): Four Pakistani soldiers, including a major, were killed and 24 militants were eliminated during intelligence-based military operations in the restive province of Balochistan and North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the country's military said on Saturday.

The information was provided in statements issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

According to a report by Dawn, the ISPR said that the armed forces had been conducting multiple intelligence-based operations since November 13 in areas around Kolpur, Kardagap and Nushki in Balochistan. Security forces also intensified area surveillance and patrolling along the Quetta-Taftan National Highway (N-40) to keep the route secure for local traffic and support the ongoing operations.

During the night of November 13-14, security forces killed eight militants, including a suicide bomber, in Kolpur. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was also recovered during the operation.

On November 14, militants targeted military vehicles engaged in patrol duties using armed quadcopters. The attack resulted in the deaths of Major Omer Minhas Nasir, a resident of Chakwal district, and Havildar Muhammad Adnan Khan, who belonged to Kotli Sattian.

In a separate statement, the ISPR said that two soldiers were killed and 16 militants were eliminated during security operations in North Waziristan.

Security forces engaged several militant positions in Mir Ali, Datta Khel and adjoining areas of the district. According to the ISPR, following intense exchanges of fire over the preceding 12 hours, 12 militants were killed in Ali Khel, while two each were killed in Mir Ali and Datta Khel.

The two soldiers who lost their lives during these engagements were identified as 43-year-old Havildar Asmat Ali and 32-year-old Naik Aftab Ali.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar