ISLAMABAD, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Three terrorists were killed on Sunday during a successful intelligence-based operation in the Jamrud area of Khyber district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the provincial police, the operation was carried out after receiving credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the Naka Kalle area of the Jamrud region in the district.

Personnel of the CTD cordoned off the site and killed three terrorists in an exchange of fire, said the CTD, adding that two accomplices managed to flee into the nearby mountainous terrain during the encounter.

"A search operation has been launched to track down and arrest the escapees," said the CTD.

The killed terrorists were reportedly involved in multiple acts of terrorism, including attacks on security forces, murder, attempted murder, extortion and other criminal activities, the CTD said.

During the operation, security personnel recovered three Kalashnikov rifles and explosive material from the possession of the terrorists. ■