Three soldiers and eight militants were killed after Pakistani security forces backed by military helicopters raided a hideout in a former militant stronghold in a restive province bordering Afghanistan, police said.

Local police official Zahidullah said a local militant commander was believed to be among those killed in Wednesday’s operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The army said a major was among the soldiers killed in the intelligence-led operation, adding that its forces were pursuing other militants in the area to ‘eliminate the threat of terrorism’.