Pakistan security forces seize truck with 5,000 kg explosives

Karachi: A truck loaded with 5,000 kilograms of explosives was seized by Pakistani security forces in the country's restive Balochistan province, a provincial minister said on Monday.

The forces raided the vehicle near the provincial capital Quetta, apparently the destination of the explosives. Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said that terrorists were trying to enter the province after the military operation in tribal region which had killed over 1,200 rebels.

"Our forces and intelligence agencies foiled their nefarious designs to smuggle weapons into the province," he said.

He rejected the claims that Islamic State (IS) also known locally by its Arabic acronym 'Daish' was present in the province. He said forces also recovered a large number of weapons during raids and searches conducted in Quetta, Panjgur and Zhob areas of the province.

He said the weapons seized during the raids included landmines, improvised explosives devices (IEDs), rocket launchers, mortar bombs and a large number of AK-47 rifles along with thousands rounds of ammunition.

He said the forces had dug trenches at the porous Pak-Afghan border to prevent infiltration.