QUETTA, Pakistan — A security post in southwestern Pakistan was targeted by a group of militants, resulting in a fierce confrontation that led to the deaths of two soldiers and five insurgents, as reported by military and local officials on Tuesday.

The assault occurred overnight in the Qila Abdullah district of Balochistan province. According to the military, the insurgents attempted to breach the security post but were thwarted. Subsequently, they directed an explosive-laden vehicle toward a perimeter wall, escalating the violence.

Military sources indicated that their troops fought back fiercely, resulting in the elimination of the assailants, whom they referred to as “khwarij,” a term commonly used by the government to describe factions of the Pakistani Taliban. Among the five attackers, two were identified as suicide bombers.

In separate statements, both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif honored the “martyred soldiers” and acknowledged the courage of security forces in thwarting the attack.

While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the assault, suspicions are likely to point towards the Pakistani Taliban as well as an outlawed Baloch separatist organization, both known for their frequent strikes against security personnel in Balochistan and other regions across the nation.

The gas-rich province of Balochistan has been embroiled in a low-level insurgency led by various small separatist groups that has persisted for more than twenty years. Initially, these groups sought a greater share of provincial resources, but their goals evolved into aspirations of independence. The Pakistani Taliban also maintain a significant presence in the region, contributing to the ongoing instability.