QUETTA: Security forces on Friday arrested 13 suspected militants said to be associated with a "banned militant organisation" during different search operations in Balochistan's Kech and Dera Bugti districts.

Spokesman for Frontier Corps (FC), a para-military force, said one of the accused, who had opposed apprehension, was injured during an exchange of fire with the security forces.

"A search operation was conducted in Tump Tehsil and we recovered one RPG-7 grenade, one sub-machine gun (SMG) and other weapons from the militants' possession in Kech district," said the spokesperson from the FC.

"Hate materials against the state were also recovered during the operation," he added.

The FC spokesperson said three of the alleged terrorists were apprehended in Balochistan's Pat Feeder area of Dera Bugti district.

All the arrested individuals were being interrogated with regards to bombings and other subversive activities in Balochistan, added the spokesperson.

Pakistan's largest province — which borders Iran and Afghanistan — is riven by sectarian strife and millitant violence.

Its roughly seven million inhabitants have long complained they do not receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth.

Baloch separatists demanding more autonomy and control over gas and mineral resources have frequently targeted security forces and police for years.