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Pakistan troops killed in ambush in Balochistan | Pakistan troops killed in ambush in Balochistan |
(about 6 hours later) | |
At least 14 Pakistani paramilitary soldiers have been killed and 10 hurt in an ambush in the south-western province of Balochistan, officials say. | |
The attack took place in the coal-rich Chamalang district, where clashes occurred in recent days. | The attack took place in the coal-rich Chamalang district, where clashes occurred in recent days. |
The army says that separatist rebels are behind the attack. | The army says that separatist rebels are behind the attack. |
Baloch rebels have been waging an insurgency for decades, fighting for greater political autonomy and a share of the province's natural resources. | Baloch rebels have been waging an insurgency for decades, fighting for greater political autonomy and a share of the province's natural resources. |
Among the 14 killed was a major from the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC), an FC spokesman told the BBC's Urdu's Ayub Tarin. | |
He said that most of the soldiers killed were not from Balochistan and came from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. | |
A search operation is under way for the attackers, the spokesman said. | |
The clash follows an incident on Sunday when a group of Baloch insurgents attacked a different FC camp - also in the Chamalang area. | |
The Baloch Liberation Army said it carried out the attack, saying that around 40 FC personnel were killed and a number of vehicles destroyed. | |
The FC says that far fewer of its personnel were killed in the weekend attack. | |
One report says that troops killed in Monday's attack were guarding a private coal mining venture in the area. | |
But the army spokesman is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying a three-vehicle convoy was attacked as it was travelling from Chamalang to Dukhi. | But the army spokesman is quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying a three-vehicle convoy was attacked as it was travelling from Chamalang to Dukhi. |
Mineral-rich region | |
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and most sparsely populated province, is rich in minerals and has vast untapped deposits of oil, gas, copper and gold. | Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and most sparsely populated province, is rich in minerals and has vast untapped deposits of oil, gas, copper and gold. |
As well as a separatist insurgency, the province has also been affected by sectarian violence and Taliban suicide attacks. | As well as a separatist insurgency, the province has also been affected by sectarian violence and Taliban suicide attacks. |
Last month Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that development and reconciliation were the only ways to stop militancy in Balochistan province. | Last month Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that development and reconciliation were the only ways to stop militancy in Balochistan province. |
But correspondents say that there is a growing sense of frustration among unemployed youths in the province who are increasingly joining pro-Taliban militant groups or the separatist insurgency. | But correspondents say that there is a growing sense of frustration among unemployed youths in the province who are increasingly joining pro-Taliban militant groups or the separatist insurgency. |