At least fifteen militants belonging to an outlawed organization and a paramilitary personnel were killed on Tuesday in a gun battle in southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan, said officials.
Paramilitary FC spokesman told media that security forces had launched a search operation in Basima area of Kharan district when a group of armed men hiding inside a bunker suddenly started firing at the security personnel. "As a result of the firing, a security official was killed and three others wounded," said the official. In retaliatory firing, FC killed at least 15 militants belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), the spokesman added. The official said that security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the site, adding that the dead militants were involved in subversive activities in the area, including bombings and targeted killings. The injured security personnel were rushed to the provincial capital city of Quetta for medical treatment.
The mineral rich Balochistan has been facing militants' insurgency for last several years and militants have targeted the security forces and government installations several times in past.