ISLAMABAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 militants were killed during the ongoing military operation in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area in the last 24 hours, an army statement said Friday.

    Pakistani security forces cleared Narakai village in Shakai Sector after stiff resistances. During encounter 15 militants were killed and one soldier was injured, the Inter Services Public Relations said in the daily press release.

    Security forces continued search and clearance operation in small villages and consolidating positions in the tribal belt. Some villages were cleared with huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered.

    Dozens of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were defused when the army cleared roads connecting villages, the statement said.

    In Swat and Malakand area of North West Frontier Province, two militants voluntarily surrendered to security forces and three suspects were arrested.

    Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani late Thursday evening. Sources told local newspaper The News that the COAS informed the prime minister about the successful completion of the military operation in South Waziristan as the army have achieved all objectives of the first phase of the operation much before the estimated time.

    The newspaper said that now the troops are engaged in consolidating their positions after less than six weeks of combat activities.

    The objectives determined for the first phase were taking control of three axes namely Razmak-Makeen, Jandola-Sararogha and Shaki-Ladha. The troops have reached all the three major militants base -- Makeen, Sararogha and Ladha and have established control over the area.

    According to the army statistics, Pakistani security forces have killed more than 600 militants since they launched the ground assault on Oct. 17 in South Waziristan, advancing towards the main base of Taliban militants in Pakistan. The army said that about 30,000 soldiers are in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants in the lawless area.