During the last 24 hours, 66 militants were killed and nine others arrested in the ongoing military operation in northwestern Pakistan, said the military in a press release Thursday.

It also said that four soldiers were killed and 12 others injured in various areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Meanwhile, Pakistani Defense Secretary Syed Athar Ali said that as many as 1,400 militants had been killed since the operation began over a month ago.

Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense, Ali said that militants were getting aid and abetment from the neighboring countries.

Pakistani security forces launched the operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat district and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2009)