ISLAMABAD, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed 30 militants in an overnight operation in Swat valley in North West Frontier Province, the army said on Sunday.

    "Security forces have successfully cleared the area up to Imam Dheri and secured prominent mountain heights overlooking Bara Bande, Kuza Bande and Imam Dheri," the army's Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

    One soldier was killed and two other were injured in the operation, the army said.

    "Security forces are in complete control of all entry points and exists to these places thereby, denying all access to the militants," the statement said.

    Hundreds of armed supporters of cleric Maulana Fazalullah, who demands Islamic Shariat in the country, are fighting the security forces in Swat valley for months.

    It said that the security forces launched their operation against militants' stronghold in village Bara Bande, Kuza Bande and Imam Dheri in Swat yesterday.

    Meanwhile, security forces are continuing targeting militants' positions with gunship helicopters and artillery.

    A curfew is imposed in Swat till Monday afternoon.