PESHAWAR: Two soldiers and three suspected militants were killed in a gunfight in Chilas town of Gilgit-Baltistan region on Thursday.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the militants were involved in attacks on tourists, civil transport and security forces.

Two security forces personnel were also killed during the clash. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation has been launched in the area.

The ISPR statement does not mention the identity of militants, their affiliation or any other details about the clash.

The exchange of fire comes two days after army chief General Raheel Sharif approved the death sentences of 13 'hardcore terrorists' who were convicted by military courts.

The convicts were involved in "committing heinous offences relating to terrorism, including killing of foreign tourists at Nanga Parbat, attack on Saidu Sharif Airport, destruction of schools, attacks on armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians," according to a statement issued by the ISPR.

Read: Militants who killed mountaineers were trained in Miramshah

Nine foreign tourists and one of their Pakistani guides were killed in a Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan-claimed attack at the 4,200-meter base camp of Nanga Parbat, the country’s second highest peak on June 23, 2013.

An army colonel, a captain and a senior superintendent of police (SSP), investigating the massacre were later killed in Chilas on August 6 2013.

Also read: Pak Army enters Chilas to conduct targeted operation