QUETTA: Security forces claim to have killed 13 suspected militants during an extensive search operation being carried out in Kalat and Mastung districts of Balochistan during the past 36 hours.

Law enforcement agencies launched operations in the two districts of Balochistan on Thursday morning.

“Security Forces have killed 13 miscreants since yesterday," Khan Wasey, the spokesperson of Frontier Corps said in a statement issued on Friday afternoon.

Wasey added that more than one dozen militants were also arrested during the operation.

The FC spokesman said the militants belonged to a banned militant organisation involved in a series of terrorist activities in the area.

However, the forces’ claim could not be verified by local sources.

Search operation was conducted in Johan and Splinji area of Kalat and Mastung, the Spokesperson said. "A commander of the defunct group was also among the dead."

Khan Wasey said six miscreants were injured and some arrested during operation.

“Security forces also destroyed two safe havens and four motorcycles of the miscreants. More than 400 FC personnel are participating in the search operation,” he added. The forces were backed by helicopter during the operation.

In March, FC personnel had killed five militants and injured six suspected of involvement in attacks on security forces torching five oil tankers carrying fuel for the Saindak Project.

Mastung is considered a sensitive district, where security forces have been on the target of militants for over a decade.