5 Soldiers Killed in Clashes in Pakistan

At least five soldiers and seven militants were killed during clashes in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistani officials confirmed on Thursday.

According to security sources, an improvised explosive device detonated near a convoy belonging to Pakistan’s paramilitary Frontier Corps before armed militants launched an attack, triggering intense fighting in the area.

A senior official told Agence France-Presse that five soldiers were killed and another sustained critical injuries during the confrontation.

Pakistan’s military later confirmed that security forces had identified and engaged a group of militants during the operation, resulting in the deaths of seven attackers following an exchange of gunfire.

Responsibility for the assault was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, the largest separatist organization operating in the province.

The group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, stated that it targeted military installations, police forces, and civil administration personnel through armed attacks and suicide bombings.

The Balochistan Liberation Army has intensified attacks in recent years against workers from other Pakistani provinces and foreign energy companies operating in the region.

Last year, the militant group carried out a major attack on a passenger train carrying around 450 people, leading to a two-day siege and multiple casualties.