ISLAMABAD, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At least two soldiers were killed during exchange of firing with militants in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, the military said.
Inter-Services Public Relations, the mouthpiece of Pakistani army, said in a statement that the troops launched a search operation in Malikabad town of Swabi district, by acting on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of suspected militants in the area.
During the operation, the militants opened fire at the forces from a compound, killing two security personnel including an officer and a soldier, the ISPR said.
Tuesday's operation was a continuation of "Operation Radd-ul-Fassad" which was launched last month after a series of terrorist attacks left over 100 people killed and more than 300 others injured in the country.
Tuesday's clash came a day after five soldiers were killed when Afghan insurgents stormed three military check posts in Mohmand tribal area, in a cross border attack.
The army said that 15 militants were also killed in retaliatory attack by forces.
Pakistani foreign office also summoned Afghan deputy ambassador and lodged a protest on Monday.