ISLAMABAD - Eleven soldiers and 19 terrorists were killed in an operation in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province overnight on Tuesday, the military said on Wednesday.

The intelligence-based operation was conducted in Orakzai district of the province on reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement.

The security forces effectively engaged the terrorists at their location, resulting in the killing of the 19 terrorists, said the ISPR.

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However, during an intense exchange of fire, 11 soldiers also lost their lives, it added.

Sanitization operation is being carried out in the area to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, said the ISPR.

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The military said that security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.