<p>A suicide attack by Islamist militants on an outpost killed 12 soldiers in the northwest Pakistan, the country's military said on Wednesday.</p><p>Militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the outpost in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and damaged the adjoining infrastructure during the attack on Tuesday, the military's media wing said in a statement.</p><p>"Sanitization operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice," the statement said, adding that six militants had been killed.</p>.Pakistani oppn holds rallies to demand PM step down.<p>The military did not provide details on who was behind the attack, but Hafiz Gul Bahadur, an Islamist militant group claimed responsibility.</p><p>Pakistan is battling a resurgence of militant attacks in its rugged northwest, as well as a growing ethnic separatist insurgency in the southwest.</p><p>On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced</p><p>a new military offensive</p><p>against separatist insurgents in southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is home to key Chinese Belt and Road projects, after a spate of attacks in the area. </p>
<p>A suicide attack by Islamist militants on an outpost killed 12 soldiers in the northwest Pakistan, the country's military said on Wednesday.</p><p>Militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the outpost in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and damaged the adjoining infrastructure during the attack on Tuesday, the military's media wing said in a statement.</p><p>"Sanitization operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice," the statement said, adding that six militants had been killed.</p>.Pakistani oppn holds rallies to demand PM step down.<p>The military did not provide details on who was behind the attack, but Hafiz Gul Bahadur, an Islamist militant group claimed responsibility.</p><p>Pakistan is battling a resurgence of militant attacks in its rugged northwest, as well as a growing ethnic separatist insurgency in the southwest.</p><p>On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced</p><p>a new military offensive</p><p>against separatist insurgents in southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is home to key Chinese Belt and Road projects, after a spate of attacks in the area. </p>