At least eight tribal policemen were killed and another injured when suspected militants opened fire at them at a checkpoint early today in Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province.
The attack took place on the Quetta-Karachi highway near the Wadh area of Khuzdar district, some 350 kilometres southwest of Quetta.
"Armed gunmen on motorcycles attacked the Johar check post early morning and shot down eight personnel while one was injured," secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Baluchistan Akbar Hussain Durrani said.
Durrani said the area has been cordoned off and a search was on for the attackers. He said the assailants could be militants or insurgents.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Militants and mainly insurgents from separatist outfits often carry out attacks on security personnel in the oil-and gas-rich Baluchistan province which borders Iran and Afghanistan. Security has become a major issue for authorities.
In 2004, separatist conflict was revived, with nationalists wanting to stop the alleged exploitation of the region's natural resources and rights abuses.
In recent years, many people suspected of being linked to separatist groups have mysteriously disappeared.
Locals blame intelligence agencies for the disappearances.
