Six militants killed in Pakistan's Balochistan province

KARACHI: At least six militants involved in several target killings and bomb explosions were killed during an operation in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province.

The militants belonging to a banned outfit were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Johan area of Kalat district yesterday, according to a Frontier Corps statement.

A huge cache of weapons was also recovered from the possession of militant who were involved in several target killings and bomb explosions in the tribal area, a security official said.

The official said a woman and her daughter who were abducted from Hyderabad in Sindh one year ago were also recovered during the operation.

Balochistan has been rocked due to violence by extremists and ethnic Blaoch militants.

The Pakistan military intensified its 'Zarb-e-azab' operation launched in June last year in militants' stronghold of North Waziristan, after the deadly Taliban attack in an army-run school in Peshawar in which 150 people, including 136 students, were killed.

Army claims that more than 1,600 militants have been killed in the operation.