A Pakistani minister said Thursday paramilitary forces killed at least 30 separatist rebels in the restive southwestern province of Baluchistan as part of a fresh operation to quell a long-running insurgency.

The operation was carried out in Dera Bugti area, some 250 kilometres (150 miles) southeast of the capital Quetta. The death toll could not be independently confirmed.

"The forces surrounded the militants early morning on Thursday. It culminated with the killing of 30 militants and arrest of three others," Sarfraz Bugti, home minister in Baluchistan, told AFP.

He added that one paramilitary was killed and five wounded during the action. "We have recovered 350 kilograms (770 pounds) of explosive material and 300 kilograms of landmines," he said.

Bugti said the militants were members of the Baluch Republican Army (BRA) and two main commanders were also killed in the operation.

"Two of the BRA commanders were also killed during the action. The forces also freed two local Bugti men kidnapped for ransom by the militants," he added.

Resource-rich Baluchistan is home to a long-running separatist conflict that was revived in 2004, with nationalists seeking to stop wh