Unidentified gunmen have shot dead two army officers and a senior police official in northern Pakistan, police said on Tuesday.

A Pakistan army colonel, a captain and a Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) were killed as their convoy came under attack in Chilas area of Gilgit-Baltistan late Monday, state radio quoted police sources as saying.

A police officer said the SSP Hilal Ahmed and the army officers were returning to their residences from an official meeting when unknown gunmen opened indiscriminate fire at their convoy, radio Pakistan reported.

Four officials were injured and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. However army colonel Mustafa Jan, captain Ashfaq and SSP Hilal Ahmed died of wounds.

The gunmen escaped after the shooting, taking advantage of the darkness.

No group had so far claimed responsibility for the attack. The authorities routinely blame militants and banned sectarian groups for attacks on security officials.

Official sources said that the slain army colonel Mustafa Jan was recently deployed to the northern areas for investigation into the attack on foreign climbers in June.

Militants had stormed a camp of foreign mountaineers and had killed at least 10 foreigners.

The Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility and its spokesman said the attack was revenge to the killing of its people in the U.S. drone strikes.

Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the family members of slain security officials.

The chief minister also asked the police and security personnel to immediately arrest the culprits. Endi

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