17 militants, 1 soldier killed in southwestern Pakistan - Anadolu Ajansı

At least 17 militants and one soldier were killed in a series of security operations in southwestern Pakistan, the military said Tuesday.

On Sunday, security forces conducted an “intelligence based” operation in Kachhi district of southwestern Balochistan province, killing 10 militants, a statement from the Pakistan Army said.

In another operation in Kharan district, security forces raided a militant hideout and killed seven militants.

During an intense exchange of fire, a soldier was also killed.

“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area,” the statement added.

Balochistan, which accounts for 42% of Pakistan’s land area, has long been a hotbed of militancy.

The mineral-rich province is a key route for the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Pakistan has recorded a surge in militant attacks over the past several years, for which it blames neighboring India and Afghanistan.

Pakistan witnessed a significant improvement in several key security indicators in October, with militant attacks declining by 37% and deaths resulting from these attacks falling by 57% compared with September.

The improvement was particularly pronounced in Balochistan and mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while suicide attacks also declined substantially, according to statistics released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.