QUETTA: At least 11 suspected militants were killed in a gun battle with personnel of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Mastung area of Balochistan late on Monday night, an official said.

A spokesman for the department said that CTD men along with other security personnel conducted a search operation in the Mastung area, some 60km from here, on the basis of an intelligence report about the presence of suspected terrorists in a compound.

The security personnel cordoned off the compound and asked the armed men to surrender, but they opened fire instead. The security personnel took positions and returned fire.

“After the heavy gun battle that ensued, 11 alleged terrorists were found dead in the compound, which they were using as their hideout,” said the spokesman.

He said the slain men belonged to the militant Islamic State group. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition was seized from the compound.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2021