ISLAMABAD, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Seven terrorists were killed during a clash with security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.

The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan district of the province on the reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement on Sunday.

During the conduct of the operation, an intense fire exchange took place between terrorists and soldiers, as a result of which seven terrorists, including two suicide bombers, were killed, the ISPR said.

The killed terrorists remained actively involved in activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians, said the statement.

Sanitization operation is being carried out in the area to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, it added. ■