Pakistan, May 19 -- Pakistan's security forces killed 22 terrorists during an ongoing sanitisation operation in North Waziristan, the military said Tuesday. The operation followed credible intelligence reports about militant presence in the Shewa area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The development matters because authorities continue nationwide counter-terrorism efforts amid rising militant violence in border regions.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the operation began on May 17 after intelligence agencies identified terrorist hideouts. Security forces engaged the militants during an intense exchange of fire in the targeted area. The military described the slain militants as members of the Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khw...