From correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan, 05:00 PM IST

Pakistani security forces Thursday killed four suspected militants in an encounter in southern Balochistan that also resulted in the death of a trooper, the online edition of Jang newspaper said.

Acting on a tip-off, paramilitary forces backed by local police and an elite anti-terrorist squad raided a house in the remote area of Mand in the Turbat district and a gun battle broke out in which the five people were killed, unidentified officials told the newspaper.

Two people rounded up in the raid told interrogators that those killed in the operation were involved in arms smuggling, kidnapping for ransom and other criminal activities.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)