Fifty-four militants were killed during the last 24 hours in various areas in northwestern Pakistan, said Pakistani military Thursday.

Nine security personnel were killed and 14 others were injured in the operation, said military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas at a press conference in Islamabad.

The operations went on well but slowly because the security forces were cautious not to cause collateral damage according to the instructions of the army chief and no operation had been carried out in the populated areas.

Fifty-four militants were killed during the last 24 hours in various areas in northwest Pakistan, said the Pakistani military on Thursday.

Fifty-four militants were killed during the last 24 hours in various areas in northwest Pakistan, said the Pakistani military on Thursday. [Xinhua]?

Nine security personnel were killed and 14 others injured in the operation, said Military Spokesman Major General Athar Abbas at a press conference here in Islamabad.

The operations went on well but slowly because the security forces took cautions in order to avoid collateral damage. Under the instruction of the army chief, no operation had been carried out in the populated areas, said the spokesman.

In Taliban stronghold of the Peochar area, where heli-borne troops were landed two days ago, the forces continued search and destroy operation.

"Miscreants made an attempt to attack the base of the security forces in Peochar Valley, which was repulsed and 21 terrorists were killed. Eight army personnel received injuries," he said.

Abbas rejected as malicious a foreign radio report that militants were in control of majority of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Giving details, he said the Bajaur tribal region had been cleared of the militants and except a few pockets the forces were operating in the nearby Mohmand tribal region and clearing the agency of the militants.

He said not a single headquarters of any of the seven agencies in tribal regions had ever been overrun or held by militants.

All the roads in the tribal areas are open to traffic and "we are also supporting our huge force deployed on border through all these roads," he said.

He also said the air forces targeted mountains where militants had dumped ammunition, food, logistics and had training centers.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2009)