At least nine suspected terrorists were killed and three got wounded in an exchange of fire with the security forces during an operation against the banned outfit BLA in Kohlu, the armed forces media wing said.

The search operation, which was conducted after an intelligence tip, was under way, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Saturday.

The ISPR claimed that it was conducted against the terrorists involved in the Kohlu blast in which at least two people were killed and 19 got injured.

It claimed that the terrorists were planning attacks in Kohlu and Mawand Balochistan, adding that they were suspected to be involved in kidnapping, extortion, and attacks on security forces. It is alleged that they had also attacked engineers and labourers.