''Security forces killed 25 armed men, '' Dawn newspaper quoted Raziq Bugti, a spokesman for the Balochistan government, as saying.

However, a senior local administration official claimed that 31 militants were killed in the operation. The figures were not officially confirmed.

''We came to know about the casualty figures from a communication intercepted by officials concerned,'' the spokesperson said.

Security forces, who launched strikes against militant strongholds three days ago in the district, attacked one of their hideouts in the north of Sangsilla. Helicopter gunships bombed the hilly area around Sangsilla, killing and injuring many militants, the newspaper said.

Mr Bugti said security forces had also found a huge cache of arms and ammunition from different areas in Dera Bugti, including anti-aircraft guns and other heavy weapons.

However, the Nazim of Dera Bugti district, Mir Mohammad Kazim Bugti, said he had no information about the tribesmen being killed but helicopter gunships were seen over many areas in the district.

Mr Bugti said heavy fighting was reported from some areas where militants resisted the attacks. He claimed that during the fighting, a helicopter was damaged.

Earlier, militants had claimed killing 30 security personnel in different areas of Dera Bugti.

Meanwhile, officials said security forces continued the operation in Dera Bugti and militants fired a large number of rockets on Frontier Corps’ checkposts.

The fresh wave of violence in the southwestern Balochistan province erupted last December when the federal government unveiled plans to explore fresh oil and gas reserves in Kohlu district.

Baloch nationalists accused the centre of not passing the benefits of economic development and share of provincial natural resources to their people.

The government blamed the local tribal chiefs, including Nawab Akbar Bugti, of deteriorating law and order in the province and making the entire population hostage to their 'nefarious designs'.

UNI XC SI KN1921