During the last 24 hours, 23 militants were killed in various areas of Malakand and Dir districts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan, the army said in a statement on Wednesday.

Reportedly 600 to 800 terrorists reached Jani Khel in Bannu district from Miran Shah and Razmak and they were planning to strike at different places in NWFP.

Meanwhile, the operation is going on in Swat and Dir districts. And the security forces are engaged in relief activities for internally displaced persons.

Security forces launched the operation in Swat valley and other districts of NWFP against militants late April. More than 1,300 militants have been killed in the operation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2009)