Military authorities in Pakistan say the country's security forces have fought separatist insurgents in the southwest of the country, leaving a total of 41 people dead.

The fighting took place in the province of Balochistan from Friday night through Saturday, after the security forces removed roadblocks the insurgents had set up. The Pakistani military says 18 soldiers and 12 militants were killed.

The military also carried out what it described as "sanitization operations" on Saturday, destroying several hideouts and killing 11 militants. The Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, has claimed responsibility for the assault.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident saying his country "will continue to fight against the monster of terrorism until it is completely eradicated."

In Balochistan, the BLA has stepped up its offensive for independence. In November, it said it carried out a suicide bombing at a railway station in the provincial capital, Quetta, that killed over 20 people.