A band of suspected Islamic State terrorists are on the run in Pakistan after escaping a police raid that killed six other members of the group, officials said Monday.
Counterterrorism police said in a statement they had attacked a hideout in the southwestern city of Quetta on Saturday and killed six terrorists, but "around four to five managed to escape".
A senior police official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that "teams are now raiding different areas to arrest those who escaped".
Among the dead was Asghar Sumalani, a junior commander in the regional chapter of Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K). He had a two million rupee ($11,400) bounty on his head.
Pakistani officials have long played down the presence of ISIS-K in their country.
But the group has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks, including the slaying of 11 miners from the minority Shiite Hazara community last year.
Some of the miners were beheaded after being kidnapped from a remote coal mine in the mountainous Machh area, 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Quetta.
ISIS-K has deep roots in several provinces in eastern Afghanistan along the porous border with Pakistan.
The group carried out a suicide bombing at Kabul airport in August, killing scores including 13 US service members, as the Taliban retook Afghanistan.
Last week Pakistani army Major General Babar Iftikhar told reporters that "Pakistan ISIS is not very active", in response to concerns that the threat from the group is rising.
ISIS Claims Responsibility For Oman Mosque Attack Unable To Afford Treatment, Pakistan Man Buries 15-Day-Old Daughter Alive Government Makes ISI Mark Mandatory For Stainless Steel, Aluminium Utensils 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare 4 Top Leaders Quit Ajit Pawar's Party In Major Setback After Poll Drubbing Trump's Running Mate Calls UK "Truly Islamist State With Nuclear Weapons" MCom, BBA, BCom: The Many Aspirants For Handyman's Job At Mumbai Airport Why Donald Trump Picked JD Vance As His Vice President Candidate Rs 1.98 Crore Relief In Mercedes Hit-And-Run, Car Was Driven By Minor Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.