Military says nine insurgents shot dead

Pakistani security forces shot and killed nine alleged militants yesterday during a raid on their hideout in southwestern Balochistan province, the military said.

A military statement said security forces conducted a raid on members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in the province’s Kohlu district.

They had received information that militants involved in a recent attack on security forces in Balochistan and a bombing in Kohlu Bazaar that killed two civilians and wounded 19 in September were hiding and planning more attacks.

There was no immediate statement from the BLA and an attempt to reach its spokesman was not immediately successful.

The military said that as security forces surrounded them, the militants opened fire starting an hours-long shoot-out that ended in the deaths of nine insurgents and the arrest of three wounded suspects.

Meanwhile, two police personnel were killed by terrorists from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, near Wanda Pashan in Lakki Marwat district on November 25, The Dawn reported, adding that TTP has claimed responsibility for the attack.