6 militants arrested, 21 others surrender in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Six militants were arrested and21 others surrendered to security forces during search and clearance operations in northwest Pakistan in the last 24 hours, officials said Wednesday.

Pakistani security forces continued operations in various areas of Swat and Malakand in North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Three militants including Muhammad Amin Qari, a notorious terrorist, were apprehended in Swat, according to the Inter Services Public Relations.

Twenty-one militants surrendered to security forces in the region during the operations. Security forces also discovered a five-meter-long empty tunnel inside a militants' hideout.

According to local officials, three militants were apprehended in Lower Dir of NWFP and a large quantity of explosives and weapons were recovered, the private TV channel Express reported.

About 1,700 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat district and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.