It was one of the deadliest attacks on troops and marked the highest number of military dead in a single incident since March when friendly fire killed 13 soldiers on the border with Afghanistan.

Up to four dozen rebels struck before dawn in the Musa Khel district, 400 kilometres (250 miles) southeast of the provincial capital Quetta.

The military said the troops were guarding a private coal mine and blamed the attack on Baluch rebels.

"Fourteen paramilitary personnel, including a major, were killed and several others were wounded. Baluch militants were involved," the spokesman told AFP.

Security officials said the rebels were armed with automatic weapons and that most of the soldiers died from gunshot wounds in the remote area.