At least a dozen suspected Baloch militants were killed in Kech district on Friday, a spokesman for Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan said.
The incident took place in the city of Turbat, just as Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was en route to Kech, his hometown.
“A group of armed men had taken over an area in the Dasht region of Turbat… using information provided by intelligence agencies, FC personnel mounted a search operation for the militants,” the FC spokesman Khan Wasay said. “At least 12 militants were killed in an exchange of fire during the operation.”
No security official was injured in the exchange of fire and the search operation was still under way, the spokesman added. “The area is being cleared by FC troops… the exchange of fire is still under way.”
The bodies of the suspected militants had not been handed over to local authorities till this report was filed.
No statement regarding the incident was issued by any Baloch separatist group.
Sources, however, said the clashes between Baloch militants and fighters belonging to a religious outfit broke out in the Balnagar area of Dasht Thursday night.
“Since last night, there has been intense firing in Balnagar,” a senior Kech administration official confirmed.
However, he had no information regarding the clash. “No cellular or landline services work in Balnagar, which is why we have no details regarding the firing.”
Security in Turbat has been beefed up for the chief minister’s visit to Kech district. The district is one of the most volatile in terms of security in Balochistan and has witnessed numerous clashes between security forces and Baloch separatists.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2014.
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9 pakistani army personnel were also killed in operation, why is this not being shown