At least 11 militants believed to be of Islamic State were killed in what police claimed was a gun battle with them in the Pakistani province of Balochistan on Monday night.
Belonging to the militant outfit’s Abdul Hayee group, they were wanted for attacking and killing two policemen in May this year, according to Pakistani daily, The News International.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said it was tipped off about a militant hideout in Killi Qamar Mazarabad in the Mastung district, where the terrorists were planning a major terrorist action.
The site of the raid is 60 km off the provincial capital Quetta, where the Islamic State group has claimed several attacks in recent years.
Balochistan is also the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch separatist groups, which have also targeted non-Baloch laborers. However, unlike IS, they have no history of attacks on the minority Shiite community.
The security personnel cordoned off the compound and asked the armed men to surrender, but they opened fire instead, reports Dawn, adding that the security personnel took positions and returned fire.
“After the heavy gun battle that ensued, 11 alleged terrorists were found dead in the compound, which they were using as their hideout,” said a CTD spokesman.
Four SMGs, one light machine gun, two suicide jackets, three 9mm pistols, 15 kg explosives, prima cord, eight detonators and eight hand grenades were recovered from the scene, sources said.
An FIR was registered at a CTD Police Station in Balochistan and further investigations were underway to pursue the remaining members of the terrorist network, the CTD spokesman said.
