PESHAWAR: A deadly encounter in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district highlighted the continued challenges faced by security forces as a Pakistan Army captain sacrificed his life while leading an operation against militants. The intelligence-based operation, conducted on August 7, resulted in the elimination of seven terrorists linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, while another counterterrorism operation in Balochistan killed three militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The ISPR said security forces launched the Hangu operation after receiving intelligence about the presence of militants in the area. Three militants killed in Balochistan operationIn a separate operation in Mastung district of Balochistan, security forces killed three militants associated with Fitna al-Hindustan during a search and clearance operation in the Kambela and Asimabad areas. According to security sources, the operation was conducted under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3, during which security forces cleared an area covering around 68 square kilometres.