5 suspected militants killed in Pakistan operations

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistani security forces killed five suspected militants, and arrested nine others in a series of operations across the country in the last 24 hours, Pakistan military said.

The suspects were killed in a clash in Gawak Mand area of southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. Two troops were also injured in the shootout, the army said in a statement Thursday.

The authorities did not share details about the affiliation of the killed suspects. However, they are believed to have been Baloch separatists who have been active in the region, and fighting for cessation of the mineral-rich province from Pakistan.

Another nine suspects were arrested in different parts of the country, the statement said, adding security forces also seized a huge cache of weapons and ammunition from restive North Waziristan tribal region.

The ongoing swoops are part of a recently launched anti-terrorism operation following a series of suicide attacks and bomb blast across the country, which killed over 130 people, and injured more than 400 in the last three months.