QUETTA: Pakistani security forces claimed to have killed six militants in Balochistan's troubled Bolan district during an operation on Tuesday night.

An official of the Frontier Corps, who did not wish to be named, told Dawn.com that security forces have launched an operation against militants near Dhadar area of Bolan district.

He said six militants were killed and two frontier corps personnel also suffered wounds during the operation. “The militants resisted the operation,” he said.

Security forces recovered 40 kilograms explosives and other arms and ammunition from the militants’ possession. However, two injured FC personnel were rushed to nearby Sibi Hospital for medical treatment.

The official said the forces and militants exchanged heavy firing during the operation that lasted for more than an hour in the mountainous area.

More troops were called in the area to control the situation. Exchange of fire near Dhadar temporarily suspended traffic between Balochistan and Sindh. However, the road was opened after conclusion of the FC operation in the area.

The dead bodies were handed over to Levies (a tribal policing) by security forces.

The security forces have intensified their operations against militants in Bolan and Sibi districts after the murder of 14 passengers few days back. The defunct Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had claimed the responsibility for the attack.

Meanwhile, powerful explosions rocked Khuzdar, Turbat, Kharan and other towns of Balochistan on the eve of Independence Day celebrations. No human loss was reported in explosions.