ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Friday security forces killed 12 militants during a clearance operation in the southwestern Balochistan district of Kharan after coordinated attacks on a police station and two banks a day earlier.

In a statement, the military’s media wing said 15 to 20 militants carried out multiple attacks in Kharan city on Thursday, targeting the City Police Station as well as branches of the National Bank of Pakistan and Habib Bank Limited, looting Rs3.4 million ($12,000).

“Security Forces effectively responded and engaged the terrorists, prompting them to retreat,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. “During the ensuing clearance operation, twelve terrorists were sent to hell in three different engagements.”

The ISPR said the militants had attempted to create a hostage situation at the police station, which was thwarted, adding that “sanitization operations” were continuing in surrounding areas.

Earlier, Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti said the attackers entered the area for a brief period of five to ten minutes and fled after the attacks, adding that one civilian, identified as Abdul Hakeem, was shot in the neck and evacuated to a military hospital for treatment.

“They came for five to ten minutes, tried to break into banks and ATMs and took around Rs3.4 million from the National Bank,” Bugti told a news conference, warning that future attacks would be met with force.

The military described the militants as members of “Fitna Al Hindustan,” a term Pakistan uses for Baloch separatist groups it accuses of operating with Indian backing, an allegation New Delhi denies.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long been plagued by separatist violence, with attacks frequently targeting security forces, infrastructure and civilians.