Up to 13 persons were killed in a clash between security forces and militants in southwestern Pakistan on Thursday evening, official Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Three Balochistan Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed and five others sustained injuries as a group of militants holed up in mountains surrounding Zain Koh area in Sui tehsil of Dera Bugti in Balochistan opened fire at their vehicle.

The FC personnel were on routine patrol in the area as militants opened fire at their vehicle.

As many as 10 militants were also killed when security forces retaliated. A heavy cache of arms and ammunition was seized.

The injured FC personnel have been shifted to a local hospital for treatment.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2009)