Pakistan’s military says it has killed at least 92 militants following a wave of co-ordinated attacks in the south-western province of Balochistan.

According to military sources, actions throughout January 31 in at least 12 cities nationwide also saw at least 15 members of the military lose their lives as well as an estimated 20 civilians.

At least one report released by the BBC says Pakistan authorities then claimed India was behind the action by militants. The same report claims New Delhi has repeatedly denied any involvement.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group long active in the region was also reported as saying it carried out the attacks and that dozens of soldiers were killed.

Both Pakistani and BLA claims remain unverified by any independent group.

If confirmed, the fighting would marks one of the bloodiest single days in recent years in Balochistan where around 400 are understood to have been killed in the last year in around 250 attacks.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was later reported as praising the armed forces, and assured the nation that Pakistan would continue to fight terrorism until it was defeated.

The roots of the BLA insurgency date back to the late 1940s, shortly after the formation of Pakistan when resistance began against the central government and demands emerged for greater autonomy or even an independent Baloch state.

Actions in the region have taken on more significance of late as Balochistan borders Iran as well as Afghanistan and covers over 40% of Pakistan’s total landmass despite being one of its most sparsely populated regions.