QUETTA: Armed militants on Friday attacked a security forces convoy and killed three personnel near Gwadar, a port city in restive Balochistan province.

Security sources told Dawn that four personnel were injured in the attack in Sansar area near Gwadar. They said that miscreants opened indiscriminate fire at the convoy and three soldiers were killed on the spot.

The miscreants escaped from the spot after the attack, they added. A search operation was launched following the attack and more security personnel were called in to the area to apprehend the assailants.

Security forces were on routine patrolling in the area when they were attacked. Police and levies also reached the spot as investigation into the incident went underway.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, security officials suspect Baloch separatist militant groups could be behind the attack.

Separatist insurgents in the area have been targeting security forces, government officials and vital national installations for over a decade.