7 killed in clashes with militants in Pakistan

KARACHI : At least six security personnel and a local government official were killed and four others injured in a clash with militants in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan Province.
Naeem Gichki, Tehsildar of Jiwani town, was returning yesterday with a security convoy of Levies personnel from the border area of Mojo with Iran when militants attacked them, Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar, Tufail Baluch said.
“He had gone there to resolve a dispute over coastal land property between two persons,” he said.
Baluch said when their convoy reached Koldan they came under fire from militants in which six soldiers were killed and Gichki was also fatally wounded. Four others were injured, he said.
Two of the injured personnel, Risalar Major Abdullah and Sepoy Nazim were critically wounded and have been admitted to a hospital in Karachi.
The Gwadar port and its surrounding areas are an important part of the USD 46 billion Pakistan-China Economic Corridor project and the area has seen regular attacks and kidnappings of security and government officials. (AGENCIES)