The bodies of 13 Turkish citizens abducted by Kurdish insurgents (PKK or The Kurdistan Workers’ Party) have been found from cave complex in northern Iraq.

According to the Turkish defence minister, Hulusi Akar, 12 of the victims received gunshot on head. Whereas, one died for being shot on shoulders.

Moreover, 13 bodies were recovered after taking the situation under control through intense clashes, during an operation conducted against PKK.

It was also revealed that at least 48 PKK militants were killed during the military operation, while three Turkish soldiers were killed and three wounded.

Turkey launched the military operation against the PKK in northern Iraq’s Gara region, some 35 km (22 miles) south of the Turkish border, on Feb. 10 to secure its frontier and find citizens who had been kidnapped previously, the minister stated.

“The information about the kidnapping of these victims were not revealed earlier due to security reasons’ said Hulusi Akar.

Pakistan condemned the incident in strongest terms as the Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan stood in strong solidarity with the people of Turkey in their fight against the scourge of terrorism.

“The government and the people of Pakistan extend their heartfelt condolences to the government and the brotherly people of Turkey, as well as to the families of innocent victims,” the spokesperson said in a statement.