QUETTA: Security forces claimed to have killed at least 12 suspected militants during a search operation in Balochistan's Awaran district on Monday.

"12 militants belonging to an outlawed organisation were killed after exchange of fire with security forces, a huge cache of weapons was recovered from their custody," a security official who requested anonymity said.

The incident occurred as security forces were busy during a search operation in Barnat and other parts of the Awaran district.

Elsewhere, Frontier Corps arrested two suspected militants with their link to another outlawed militant group in the province's Barkhan district.

The FC spokesman said that the forces also recovered weapons from the possession of the arrested suspects.

The security forces have intensified their actions in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan after the announcement of National Action Plan to combat terrorism in the country.