QUETTA: At least 15 suspected militants were killed during an exchange of fire with Frontier Corps personnel in the southwestern Balochistan province on Thursday, a spokesman for the security force said.

One FC man was killed and another three were also injured during the clash in the province's Kharan district, the spokesman said.

Security forces launched a search operation in the Basima area of Kharan during which an exchange of fire took place with suspected militants, the spokesman said, adding that security forces seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the militants.

The FC spokesman said that the dead militants were involved in subversive activities in the area, including bombings and targeted killings.

The injured security personnel were rushed to the provincial capital city of Quetta for medical treatment.

The information relating to the clash as well as the death toll could not be independently verified.