Pakistan's security forces advanced further into the Taliban strongholds of South Waziristan tribal agency during the last 24 hours and killed five militants, the army said Friday in a daily press release.

One soldier of the security forces was injured in the past day during the operation coded as Rah-e-Nijat, or path of salvation,in the northwest tribal area bordering Afghanistan, the army said.

As the operation steadily progressed towards the Taliban base in three axes, the army said, the security forces carried out an area domination and consolidation of their positions at Janata, carried out a search operation in Faqirano area near Torwam and conducted a clearance operation at Yarga Khel near Gani Khel and Lalejai near Tarkano Narai.

The army destroyed some terrorists compounds and recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunitions during the search operation, it said.

Meanwhile in the ending operation in Swat and Malakand, six militants have been arrested and another three suspects voluntarily surrendered themselves to the security forces, according to the statement.

On relief activities, so far 13,440 cash cards have been distributed amongst the displaced families of Waziristan, the army said.

According to the army statistics, Pakistani security forces have killed more than 500 militants since they launched the ground assault on Oct. 17 in the 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.

The military said that the operation was launched in six towns of the area in three directions and is likely to continue for six to eight weeks, but no final deadline can be given.

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