Four suspected militants killed in follow-up operation in Pakistan

Pakistani security forces killed four suspected militants in a follow-up operation after an overnight attack that killed three civilians and injured at least nine others near Quetta, the capital of the southwestern Balochistan province, local officials said on Monday. The operation was continuing in the tourist destination of Urak Valley as security forces pursued the remaining attackers, said provincial spokesman Shahid Rind. At least nine law enforcement personnel were injured in the operation, revealed Balochistan Provincial Home Minister Meer Zia Ullah Langau. Officials said heavily armed men attacked the Babri area of Urak on Sunday evening. Local residents fought back, triggering a gun battle. Langau said three people were killed, nine others were injured, and at least seven were abducted in the attack. Police, the Frontier Corps, and other security agencies immediately launched a search operation after the attack, while security in the surrounding area was tightened. Balochistan authorities blamed the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan for the attack, although no group has claimed responsibility.