Islamabad  - Pakistan's military on Thursday claimed killing 17 militants in the north-western Swat valley, where security forces are hunting Taliban leaders after dismantling their insurgent network.

Troops inflicted the casualties on insurgents during search operations conducted across Swat, a statement issued by the army said.

Thirteen suspected rebels were taken into custody, whereas seven more surrendered themselves to the security forces, according to the statement.

The government lost its writ in Swat two years ago when a local hard-line cleric, Maulana Fazlullah, rose up in arms to implement Taliban-style rules in the region, banning girls' education and men shaving beards.

An all-out assault was launched in April 2009 after the militants, who were emboldened by a controversial peace deal, overran Swat's nearby districts to expand their influence.

In a powerful offensive since then, the military has said it killed over 2,000 fighters and arrested scores more. But the figures lack independent verification.

Soldiers are now facing pockets of resistance in the serene mountain valley, which has been largely cleared of Fazlullah's men.

With the Swat onslaught inching towards its end, the military is gearing up for a major operation in the Waziristan region, stronghold of slain Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in early August.

The tribal area bordering Afghanistan also serves as a safe haven for al-Qaeda fighters.

The United States is pushing Pakistan for the offensive as most of the attacks on the Western forces operating in Afghanistan originate from Waziristan.(dpa)