Forces kill 11 Islamic State-K fighters during anti-terror raid in Pakistan

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Authorities in Pakistan said Tuesday that security forces killed nearly a dozen militants of the Islamic State-Khorasan terror group during a raid on their hideout.

Officials said the raid occurred in Baluchistan province and killed 11 IS-K fighters.

Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department said it acted on an intelligence report detailing the hideout's location.

Authorities said officers came under attack during the raid, as militants opened fire and tossed hand grenades during the fight.

Officials said Tuesday's raid was designed to keep IS-K from using the hideout as a planning center for future terrorist attacks. Police found a large stash of arms and explosives.

IS-K, an Afghanistan offshoot of the Islamic State terror group, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings in Kabul last week during the U.S. military evacuation. The attacks killed 13 Marines and nearly 200 Afghan civilians.

The group has often launched bomb attacks in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province.

Baluchistan, which shared borders with Afghanistan and Iran, is Pakistan's largest province and has been the focal point of separatists demanding independence from the country.