The Frontier Core (FC) troops backed by helicopter gunships on Tuesday in an operation in the mountainous area of Southwestern Baluchistan Province killed at least 5 militants, wounded 10 others and arrested 7 more, said FC sources. Acting on a credible intelligence report, sources told KUNA, FC launched an operation in Sangsela mountainous area of Dera Bugti tribe, heart of insurgency in the province, against nationalist militants.According to the initial reports, FC killed five militants, wounded 10 and arrested 7 others. Sources said the five wounded are said to be in critical condition. They said further that FC destroyed a training camp for militants and recovered huge caches of arms, ammunition and instructions about making high-intensity bombs.
Baluch nationalist militants have recently stepped attacks on security forces and vital government installations to pressure the government to heed to their demand of granting them more provincial autonomy. Frequent attacks on state-owned gas pipelines in the last few months have incurred the government millions of dollars in losses and hindered the development projects. The government has blamed India, Iran and Afghanistan for insurgency in the province.