( CNN ) -- Pakistan on Sunday launched a military operation in a restive province near the border with Afghanistan in an attempt to `` finish off '' militants in the area `` once and for all , '' Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told CNN . Asif said the operation , which included airstrikes early Sunday , was the government 's second option , but negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban failed . On Monday , the Pakistani Taliban issued a statement calling on all foreign-run businesses , international airline companies and multinational companies to `` wrap up their affairs ( and ) leave Pakistan immediately . '' The statement was issued by spokesman Shahidullah Shahid in response to the military 's operation . Shahid said the Pakistani Taliban will meet any military operation with an equally damaging response and that `` the government will yearn for talks and peace but will realize that it is now too late . '' Pakistan 's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif defended the operation to members of parliament on Monday , saying that the government had tried patiently to pursue peace talks . `` On one hand we were pursuing dialogue , and on the other we were being targeted . We were pursuing talks , but from Islamabad courts to Karachi airport we were attacked . '' Sharif vowed that the operation would continue until terrorism is eliminated from Pakistan . Six soldiers were killed and three were injured Monday in an IED explosion , according to Pakistan 's military . Two soldiers died in an exchange of fire that killed seven terrorists who were trying to flee , the Defense Ministry said . Earlier the military released a statement that said 50 suspected terrorists were killed in the airstrikes . The air raids were based on intelligence about the presence of foreign and local militants who were linked to last week 's deadly attack on the Karachi airport , the military said . Asif said the Karachi airport attack was the `` straw that broke the camel 's back . '' Here 's a look at what you need to know about Pakistan . Pakistani Taliban sources said jets dropped five bombs on the Degan area of North Waziristan . The target was a meeting of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan members , the militant group said , but added that the number of casualties was unclear . `` In this operation we will not differentiate between foreign and local militants , '' Asif said . `` We are determined to finish them off , once and for all . '' Most of the fatalities in the strikes were Uzbek fighters , the military said . The raid took place in Degan and Datta Khel . Asif said the military hopes to conclude the offensive -- called Zarb-e-Azb in Urdu , which translates to `` Strike of the Prophet 's Sword '' -- by the beginning of Ramadan on June 28 . But it may take two or three months , he said , until `` our land ... is free of this menace . '' He said it is a Pakistani-only operation and the United States has n't been asked to assist with drone strikes . Northwestern Pakistan is home to loosely governed tribal areas . It 's also a base for foreign fighters and a refuge for members of the Islamist militant Haqqani movement . Last week , the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan claimed it carried out the airport attack , which resulted in an hours-long siege and left dozens dead , including the assailants . The militants said the attack was carried out with the Pakistani Taliban . There were reports that travelers were congregating in hotels and restaurants in towns like Bannu after being stranded due to a curfew that began Friday . Asif said the government will help out residents . `` We are at war now . There will be inevitable fallouts , '' he said . `` If there is blowback , we are ready and prepared to assist people who have had to flee from their homes . '' CNN 's Zahir Shah Shirazi and Aliza Kassim contributed to this report .
NEW : Karachi 's Prime Minister justifies operations , saying talks failed . Two Afghan soldiers have died in the operation against militants near Pakistani border . Military says it conducted airstrikes based on intelligence on presence of militants . The militants were linked to planning the Pakistan airport attack , military says .