Islamabad: At least 27 militants, including a commander, were killed in shelling by Pakistani troops and ground clashes in the unruly northwest on Sunday where a pro-Taliban cleric and nine terrorists were arrested.
Two soldiers were also killed when troops conducting a search operation at Sarkari Qila in the Bajaur tribal region were targeted with an improvised explosive device, the military said in a statement.
The security forces carried out shelling on hideouts of militants in Dogdara and Ghazi areas of Upper Dir, killing 23 Taliban, television channels reported citing sources.
A 'lashkar' or tribal militia also killed three militants and destroyed their training centre, the reports said. In Swat, Taliban commander Maaz of the Qambar region was killed by security forces during a search operation.
Ten people were arrested during search and clearance operations in Malakand, which includes Swat valley, over the past 24 hours. Among them was an imam of a mosque who was a "supporter and sympathiser of terrorists".
Six militants were captured during a search near Charbagh, a former Taliban stronghold in Swat. Three more militants were apprehended during an operation at Pia village near Madyan.
Troops also destroyed infrastructure created by militants, including a large number of tunnels, during search operations at several places across the Swat valley. The militants had built an extensive network of tunnels in which they hid to evade army patrols and air strikes by gunship helicopters.
Two tunnels were destroyed at Wakilabad near Khwazakhela, a former militant stronghold while four tunnels were demolished near Waliabad. Another tunnel was destroyed and communication equipment recovered during an operation at Ghaznavi near Peochar, the main base of the Taliban leadership in Swat.
Security forces also seized a cache of weapons, including 17 rifles, three machine guns and four pistols, during an operation at Tutan Banda.
In Dir district, troops defused five IEDs during a search operation at Khanai and Lal Qila. Three militant hideouts were demolished by troops during operations at several places in Buner district.
The army says it is currently wrapping up its operations in Swat before launching an offensive against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud and his network in the Waziristan tribal region.
Gilani had called in the army in May to eliminate the Taliban in Swat and nearby districts.
The army claims it has killed over 1,700 militants in Buner, Dir, Swat and other parts of Malakand. Over 160 security personnel have also died in the fighting.