Pakistan Army kills 14 militants

ISLAMABAD - Fourteen militants, including three rebel commanders, were killed in fighting with the security forces in northwest Pakistan, officials said Monday.

In the past 24 hours to Monday evening, the security forces killed 14 terrorists, including three rebel commanders, in a search operation in the Swat and Malakand districts in northwest Pakistan, the Pakistan Army said in a statement. A number of weapons were also seized.

A Pakistani Army major was also killed in the operation, the statement added.

In a separate development, some 3,000 displaced families, who were living at the relief camps following the army offensives against the militants in northwest Pakistan, returned to their homes Monday.

The army said more than 45,000 families have returned to their homes in the Malakand Division since July 13.