Rawalpindi: Security forces are continuing operations against the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by Pakistani authorities as Fitna al-Khawarij, under the Azm-e-Istehkam initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to security sources, an intelligence-based operation was conducted in North Waziristan, during which nine militants, including four key commanders, were killed. The operation was carried out in the areas of Palang Zai, Nadeem Kot and Kot Khazri. The four commanders identified by the security sources were Khalid Raza, Kamran, Musa and Maftoom. Security sources said that a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the militants. Several militant hideouts were also destroyed during the operations. Mean while , President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for the successful operation, saying that the killing of nine militants, including four key commanders, demonstrated the forces' professionalism and courage. He said that the conspiracies of the militants' foreign sponsors and local facilitators would be thwarted, adding that operations under Azm-e-Istehkam would continue until terrorism is eliminated.