India, May 6 -- Seven Pakistan army soldiers were killed on Tuesday when their vehicle was reportedly struck by an improvised explosive device in the troubled southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistan's military said in a statement.

This come days after a separatist militant group in Balochistan claimed responsibility for an attack on a prison van on Sunday, during which five police officers were taken hostage.

According to a police official, between 30 and 40 armed militants blocked a key highway in Balochistan province late Friday night, intercepting the police-escorted prison transport.

"The prisoners were later freed, but five police officers were abducted," said a senior police official who spoke to AFP news agency on conditi...