**At least 14 militants are reported to have been killed since Sunday evening in clashes with Pakistan’s military in the Swat valley, army officials say.**The killings occurred as searches were being conducted in the Matta and Kabal areas, both of which remain off limits to people returning to their homes.
One army officer was also reported to have been killed in the operations.
The violence comes after the government closed two relief camps the north-west, as people continue to return to Swat.
Some 650 displaced families are set to leave camps and other shelters for their home in the Swat region.
It is estimated that more than almost 50,000 families have left for their homes since the process began earlier this month.
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But there continues to be reports of sporadic violence in the region. Returnees have expressed anxiety about their continuing security in the valley.
Exchange of fire
The army says that it killed two militant commanders in remote villages in the Matta area, north-west of Mingora, Swat’s main city.
It also says that 12 more militants were “reportedly” killed in an exchange of fire in the Kabal area. The army spokesman said that he had no confirmation about these deaths.
However the army did confirm that one officer, Maj Zahid, died during the exchange of fire in Kabal.
The army is offering no official comment on media reports claiming that dozens of militants have been killed in the Maidan area of Lower Dir district.
Maidan has been the target of army fire since May and there are also occasional house searches in the area.
Pakistan’s army has said that its operation against the Taliban in the neighbouring Swat valley is largely over.
But it is in the early stages of an assault against Taliban hideouts in the tribal district of Waziristan.
There have been reports of clashes between the army and militants across parts of the north-west in recent months.
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