NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Eight militants were killed by security forces in the Razmak area of North Waziristan on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, according to the military’s media wing. A statement issued by Inter Services Public Rela­tions (ISPR) on Thursday said an intelligence-based operation was conducted on the reported presence of militants in the area. During the operation, an “intense fire exchange” took place between the forces and militants. The statement added that weapons and ammunition were recovered from dec­eased militants who, acc­o­rding to ISPR, were inv­o­lved in attacks on security forces and civilians. The forces were conducting a sanitisation operation in the area to eliminate any other militants, it added. 17 cops injured in Swabi blast A inside the weapons depot of Swabi’s city police station on Thursday injured 17 cops. The blast was so powerful that the police station building, which was built during the British era, collapsed. The blast was heard wit­hin a five-kilometre radius. Soon after the blast, top police officials, including District Police Officer Haroon Rashid, arrived at the scene and supervised the rescue operation. An emergency was also declared in all hospitals of the district. Luqman Khan, a rescue official, said a number of injured policemen were taken to the Bacha Khan Medical Complex, but the exact number of casualties was not known. According to the hospital spokesperson, Raham Yousafzai, two of the injured policemen were in critical condition. The cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained. The president, prime minister, and other political leaders hailed the security forces for the Razmak operation’s success. In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari said the security forces showed exemplary gallantry“ in the operation, APP reported. “The operation against terrorism will continue till the elimination of this scourge in toto. The whole nation stands by its security forces in this fight,” he said and reiterated the resolve to protect the lives and properties of innocent citizens. PM Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on a five-day visit to the US, said the “timely action” by security forces led to the killing of eight terrorists. He added that the protection of lives and properties of citizens was among the government’s priorities. The PM also reiterated the resolve to continue the war against terrorism till the complete elimination of terrorism. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani and Interior Mohsin Naqvi also commended the security forces for their operation. “The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with our forces in the war against terrorism. The terrorists cannot succeed in their nefarious designs to spread chaos and unrest in the country,” Mr Gilani said.