Islamabad/IBNS/UNI: A soldier was killed in an exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a military statement said.

The incident happened when the security forces conducted an operation in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan district of the province, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Saturday.

The ISPR statement said a sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area.

The Pakistani military said the security forces of the country are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of the soldiers further strengthen the nation's resolve.