ISLAMABAD, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A highly wanted militant commander carrying a bounty of 6 million Pakistani rupees (about 21,400 U.S. dollars) was killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said Thursday.

The militant, identified as Naseer Muhammad, was killed during a joint operation conducted by the Bannu District Police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Bannu District Police Officer Muhammad Furqan Bilal confirmed.

According to a police statement attributed to him, the operation was launched following reports about the presence and movement of militants in the area. Police and CTD teams conducted targeted actions and searched suspected locations.

Security was also tightened in parts of the district as search and surveillance operations continued, the statement said.

Pakistan's security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations against militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant attacks and counterterrorism operations have increased in recent months.