PESHAWAR: The military’s media wing claimed on Saturday that at least 19 suspected militants were killed in Shawal area near the Pak-Afghan border, four security personnel also lost their lives.

In a statement the Inter-Services Public Relations said that ground forces surrounded a group of alleged terrorists in Mangroti area near the Pak-Afghan border.

At least 19 suspected terrorists were killed and several injured in the exchange of fire which also resulted in the death of four military men, the ISPR stated.

However, this information could not be independently verified as journalists have limited access to the war-torn region.

The ISPR said that the deceased security personnel have been identified as Capt Umair, Havaldar Hakim and Sepoy Hameed and Sepoy Rashid.

15 'terrorists' killed in North Waziristan

At least 15 suspected militants were killed during air strikes conducted by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets in the Maisar area of Dattakhel Tehsil in South Waziristan Agency.

Officials told Dawn.com that at least 15 suspected militants were killed after jets targeted four positions in the restive agency's Dattakhel area.

According to official statements, over 3,500 militants have been killed in operation Zarb-i-Azb, while the offensive forced over a million civilians to vacate their homes and move to settled areas of the country.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif ordered troops on Wednesday to march on the last bastion of terrorists in Shawal valley of North Waziristan to take operation Zarb-i-Azb to its logical end.