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Twelve killed in Pakistan raids: Officials

AAPAP
Attacks on Pakistan's security forces have increased in recent weeks.
Camera IconAttacks on Pakistan's security forces have increased in recent weeks. Credit: EPA

Counter-terrorism police have killed nine alleged militants in a shootout during a raid in southwest Pakistan, officials say, with two soldiers and a militant killed in a raid in the northwest.

A raid was conducted in the Mastung area of Baluchistan province early on Saturday, the provincial counterterrorism department said in a statement.

Earlier in the week, a bomb attack killed a police officer and wounded 19 others in the same area.

The statement said militants opened fire on police triggering a gun battle that left nine "terrorists" dead.

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No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the bombing earlier in the week was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.

The statement said the raid also yielded nine Kalashnikov assault rifles, explosives and rocket-propelled grenades.

In the northwest of the country, two soldiers and a militant were killed in an exchange of fire during a security forces raid, according to a military statement.

The raid took place on Friday evening in Miran Shah, the main town of the North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan.

The military statement said weapons and ammunition were seized.

Friday's raid came after two soldiers and two police were killed in a bomb blast earlier in the week during a search operation in Bajur tribal district, which also borders Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2400km internationally recognised border known as the Durand Line, which was drawn in the 19th century when the British dominated South Asia.

Kabul has never recognised the boundary.

Before the Taliban came back into power in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan often accused each other of turning a blind eye to militants operating along the porous frontier.

The Taliban's return in August seems to have emboldened Islamic militants in Pakistan, where attacks on security forces have increased in recent weeks.

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