Eighteen paramilitary soldiers and 24 militants were killed in fighting in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

Axar.az reports that this information was shared by Reuters.

According to reports, the armed confrontation took place during an operation to remove roadblocks set up by the separatists.

The latest attacks drew condemnation from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other provincial leaders in Balochistan, who also praised the security forces for eliminating the “terrorists.”

Zardari and Sharif said the operations will continue in Balochistan until the insurgents are eliminated.

The Baloch National Army separatist group claimed responsibility for attack.