QUETTA, July 19: At least seven militants were killed and a number of others, including two security personnel, injured during a clash between security forces and armed men in the Uch area of Dera Bugti district on Saturday afternoon.

Officials confirmed the gunbattle and said that seven militants had been killed and two security personnel injured.

According to sources, security forces launched a search operation in the area around the Uch gas field after a remote-controlled blast and a rocket attack on the gas installations which claimed the lives of a security personnel and an employee of the OGDC earlier in the day.

They said the armed militants attacked the security personnel, injuring two soldiers. Security forces fired back and killed seven militants. Both sides used heavy weapons, including rockets and machine guns.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from militants’ hideouts.