QUETTA: Security forces claimed to have killed four suspected militants, including a key militant commander of a banned organisation during two different search operations in Balochistan's Turbat and Kalat areas on Wednesday morning.

At least two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were also killed during exchange of fire with militants in Turbat's Bal-nagore area.

An FC spokesman told DawnNews that security forces launched a search operation against militants involved in attacks on security officials and civilians in various parts of Kech district's Turbat area.

He said there was an exchange of fire between security forces and miscreants in Bal-nagore.

"Six miscreants belonging to a banned militant organisation have been killed since yesterday," he said.

Two FC men were also killed in the clash.

Security forces also seized weapons from the possession of the miscreants, the spokesman added.

Intelligence agencies and FC personnel launched another operation against militants in Balochistan's Kalat district on Wednesday.

The FC spokesman said a key militant commander was killed during the operation. The commander belonged to a banned militant organisation operating in the area.

Earlier on Tuesday, three suspected militants were killed in a clash with security forces during a search operation in Turbat, bringing the total number of militants killed in the area since yesterday to six.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, has remained under the grip of violence for over a decade which has claimed thousands of lives.