ISLAMABAD — At least five security personnel were killed in an attack by militants in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, said the military on Saturday.

According to Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), four Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers and a Levies sub-inspector were killed after "terrorists" attacked a security forces' vehicle in Spinwam area of North Waziristan district.

"A clearance operation was in progress to eliminate any terrorists found in the area," said ISPR.

Earlier on Thursday, a Pakistan Army captain was killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement, the ISPR said that security forces conducted an operation after receiving information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

During the exchange of fire, Capt. Sikander — who was 27 years old and hailed from Pakpattan — was martyred, the statement said.

"TTP terrorist commander Khawaza din alias Sher Khan was killed. Weapons and ammunition [were] recovered from the hideout," the statement added.

The attack came on the day when state owned Radio Pakistan quoted Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan as saying that since we were United States ally, the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emerged and started targeting us.

He said we are in talks with some of the groups in TTP for a reconciliation process.

The deceased security officials were identified as 35-year-old Havaldar Zahid from Charsadda, 37-year-old Havaldar Ishaq from Kurram, 28-year-old Lance Naik Wali from Khyber, 28-year-old Lance Naik Abdul Majeed from Kurram and 38-year-old sub-inspector Javed from Spinwam. — Agencies