Pakistani troops fought insurgents who set up roadblocks in the restive northwestern region of Balochistan, leaving 18 paramilitary security forces and 23 rebels dead in some of the heaviest clashes in recent years,

QUETTA: Eighteen paramilitary soldiers martyred and 24 militants were killed in fighting in Balochistan, the military’s media wing said in a statement on Saturday. The militants had tried to set up roadblocks overnight in the restive province of Balochistan and most of the deaths had taken place as security forces removed them, the military said.

Pakistani military said the troops suffered casualties when they engaged the insurgents who erected barricades on a key highway in Balochistan’s Kalat district, bordering Afghanistan

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir visited Balochistan on Saturday amid clashes in the restive province in which 18 security personnel and 23 terrorists have been killed in the last 24 hours.