19 militants, 3 troopers killed in clashes in NW Pakistan ISLAMABAD, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Three troopers and 19 militants were killed in an overnight operation launched by the Pakistan army in various areas of the country's northwest tribal regions, an army statement said Friday. Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the mouth piece of Pakistan army, said in a statement that the troopers started operation against suspected militants on late Thursday night that continued till wee hours of Friday in the country's northwest Khyber Agency and Kurram Agency. The ISPR said that in the successful operation, security forces took hold of Khyber Agency's Maidan area and Kurram Agency's Para Chamkani area, which were previously held by militants. After fierce exchange of fire, security forces have established foothold on Mohammadi Top in Kurram Agency while capturing Haider Kandao, a point which controls move to Maidan area in Khyber Agency, said the statement. The forces also cleared all the major hills that were previously occupied by militants, it said. During the operation 19 terrorists were shot dead while 12 others got injured, the statement said, adding that three troopers including an official also lost their lives during the exchange of fire. Locals of the area have extended all-out support to the security forces and have also formed the Village Defence Committees to protect their villages against any attack by the terrorist, said the statement. Pakistan army declared the Para Chamkani area, comprising 29 villages, as a conflict zone earlier this month when militants took hold of a large part of the area and displaced nearly 12,000 families to the neighboring Kohat and Hangu districts. The armed offensive against the militants, which started earlier on May 8, has killed over 140 insurgents so far and injured several others. In retaliatory attack, militants killed eight soldiers and injured over 20 others. Earlier on Thursday, 17 militants were killed and four hideouts destroyed when security forces advanced in the same Para Chamkani area of Kurram Agency.