Pakistani security forces clashed with militants in the country’s insurgency-hit southwestern province of Balochistan, killing 10 insurgents. Separately on Wednesday, a botched car bomb detonated prematurely, killing three people at a nearby home along with eight militants who had been rigging the explosives.
The clashes were part of a government operation targeting what authorities call members of “Fitna Al Hindustan,” a term Pakistani officials use for Baloch separatist groups they allege are backed by India. New Delhi denies supporting militants in Pakistan.
The military said two soldiers were also wounded in the operation. The car bombing occurred in the province’s Surab district.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populous province, has long faced a separatist insurgency led by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, which has carried out numerous attacks in recent years, frequently targeting security forces, Chinese interests, and infrastructure projects. The province has also seen attacks by the Pakistani Taliban, a separate group allied with the Afghan Taliban
