PESHAWAR: Three suspected militants and two security personnel were killed in an exchange of fire Thursday in Bannu's Daryaba area.

Security sources say suspected militants attacked the Khadim security checkpost, adding that security personnel killed three 'terrorists' in responsive firing.

Following the attack, security forces launched a search operation in the area.

The northwestern region of Bannu, which stands at the gateway to the semi-autonomous Waziristan tribal region, is 150 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

The region has witnessed a number of attacks and was the scene of a massive jail break in April 2012 during which 384 prisoners escaped from its central prison.

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