Pakistani security forces killed five militants and rescued 23 hostages during an operation in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military said Sunday.
The militants had set up an illegal checkpoint near Kalat overnight into Saturday, stopping vehicles to abduct people for ransom, extort money and seize vehicles, according to a military statement.
The military identified the militants as members of what it called “Fitna al-Hindustan”, a term used by the Pakistani government for the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and other separatist groups operating in Balochistan. Pakistan alleges the groups receive support from India, a claim New Delhi has denied.
Security forces recovered six trucks, three buses and two cars, along with weapons, ammunition and explosives. Neither the security forces nor the rescued hostages suffered casualties, the military said.
Troops were conducting searches in the surrounding areas for any remaining militants, it added.
The operation came more than a week after Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti ruled out negotiations with insurgents and said security operations would continue until militancy was eliminated from the province.
Militants in Balochistan frequently use illegal checkpoints to abduct people for ransom. Last month, 18 police officers were killed after being abducted, according to reports.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for the latest operation and said counterterrorism operations would continue until what he described as foreign-sponsored terrorism was eliminated.
Balochistan has faced a long-running insurgency involving several separatist groups, including the BLA, which demand independence from Pakistan's central government. The groups have mainly targeted security forces and people from Punjab travelling to the province for business or work.
Despite Pakistani authorities' claims that the insurgency has been contained, violence has continued in the province.