Islamabad, Sep 22 (IANS): Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the army would continue to play a role in rebuilding the Swat Valley.

Kayani reiterated that the Pakistan Army would continue to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order in the country's northwest tribal region, the Dawn newspaper reported Sunday.

Kayani also paid tributes to the three army officers who were killed Sep 15 near the Afghanistan border.

Maj. Gen. Sanaullah, Lt. Col. Tauseef and Lance Naik Irfan Sattar were killed when a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Upper Dir area. The three were on a routine visit to the area.

The Pakistani Taliban later claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Praying for Maj.Gen. Sanaullah, Lt.Col. Tauseef and Lance Naik Irfan Sattar, he paid rich tributes to them for their ultimate sacrifice and said that the whole nation would remain indebted to them," said a Pakistani military press release.

The army chief also hailed his troops for successfully evicting militants from the area.