ISLAMABAD: Five militants and a Pakistan Army major were killed during a gunbattle between militants and security forces in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Monday. 

Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by nationalist groups operating in the southwestern region, who claim to be fighting against what they view as the unfair exploitation of its mineral wealth by the federation.

The Pakistani state has consistently denied allegations made by armed separatist groups. On Sunday, a senior official of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) was killed in a targeted bomb attack in Balochistan’s capital Quetta, signifying a steep rise in militant activities across the province. 

According to a statement by the army’s media wing, security forces conducted an operation in Sambaza, Zhob district on the reported presence of militants on Sunday night. 

“During the conduct of the operation, terrorists were surrounded and after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were sent to hell,” the ISPR said. 

The army’s media wing said security forces also suffered casualties in the form of Major Syed Ali Raza Shah, 31, who was leading the operation. Havaldar Nisar Ahmed, 38, was also killed during the gunbattle. 

“Security forces of Pakistan are indebted & proud of our brave men and pay homage to their chivalry and sacrifices for the motherland,” the ISPR said.

The army said a sanitization operation was underway to eliminate any militants found in the surrounding areas. 

Pakistan’s western regions have seen a sharp rise in militant attacks since the Afghan Taliban captured Kabul in August 2021. The proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a separate entity from the Afghan Taliban who have pledged allegiance to them, have carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistan’s security forces and civilians since 2007. 

Pakistan has called on Afghanistan to rein in TTP militants that it says are operating from Afghan soil. However, the Afghan government has rejected Pakistan’s accusations, leading to strained ties between Kabul and Islamabad. 

Last month, at least 60 people were killed and several injured when a suicide bomber targeted a gathering held in Balochistan’s Mastung city to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).