Islamabad, Feb 2, (dpa/GNA) – At least 18 soldiers and 23 militants have been killed in fierce clashes in south-western Pakistan, the military said on Saturday.
The fighting erupted overnight in the restive Balochistan province, after the militants erected barricades on main roads.
The military said it launched multiple operations to remove the roadblocks and thwart the disruption to daily life. At least 12 militants were killed in Kalat district, and another 11 were killed in Herani district, it said.
No militant group has claimed responsibility so far. However, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had been behind a surge in attacks on soldiers in recent months.
Much of the violence in Balochistan is directed against multi-billion-dollar Chinese infrastructure projects.
Baloch militant and political groups accuse China of stealing their land and resources, including several hundred kilometres of shoreline.
GNA