ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed five militants during an intelligence-based operation in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday.

The operation was conducted on Saturday in Lakki Marwat district, following reports about the presence of militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military, said in a statement.

Security forces engaged the militants' location during the operation, and killed five militants after an intense exchange of fire, the statement added.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were involved in many terrorist activities in the area, the ISPR said.

A sanitization operation was underway to eliminate any other militants found in the area, the statement added. ■