At least five soldiers and seven militants were killed in clashes in Pakistan’s turbulent south-western province of Balochistan, officials said on Thursday.

Axar.az reports, citing The Defense Post, that an improvised explosive device detonated near a convoy of paramilitary Frontier Corps troops and was followed by a clash with militants, they said.

“Five soldiers were killed and another was critically wounded,” a senior official told AFP.

“During the operation, a group of terrorists was located and engaged by troops. During fire exchange seven terrorists were killed,” the army’s media wing said in a statement.