7 killed in botched kidnapping of tourist in Pakistan

Seven paramilitary personnel were killed Wednesday during a fight with gunmen attempting to kidnap a Spanish tourist, Pakistani officials said. The Balochistan tribal paramilitary personnel were escorting the Spanish cyclist from the Pakistan-Iranian border to Quetta when the unknown gunmen attacked, Voice of America reported. Seven tribal police were killed and 10 others, including the tourist, were injured, Dawn News reported. The injured were taken to Civil Hospital Mastung, where the Spanish national was listed in critical condition. "Militants wanted to kidnap the Spanish tourist," said Asad ur Rehman Gailani, the Balochistan home secretary. In response to the attack, police, paramilitary tribal police and the frontier corps, backed by two army helicopters, launched an operation in the Darin Garh area of Mastung.