i soldiers stand guard near an attack site in Quetta, Pakistan, on Jan. 2, 2018. At least 12 people including five security personnel were injured in a terrorist attack at a checkpoint in Pakistan's southwest city of Quetta on Tuesday evening, local Urdu TV Channel Dunya reported. (Xinhua/Asad)

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people including five security personnel were injured in a terrorist attack at a checkpoint in Pakistan's southwest city of Quetta on Tuesday evening, local Urdu TV Channel Dunya reported.

According to the reports, two unknown gunmen opened fire at a security check post of Frontier Corps (FC) in Baleli area of Quetta, the capital of the country's southwest Balochistan Province.

In retaliatory fire from the security troopers, the two attackers were shot dead soon after they launched the attack.

An intensive fire exchange took place between the two sides in which at least five security personnel and seven passer-bys sustained injuries.

Police, rescue teams and additional contingents of security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the hospital.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Some local media reports said it was a suicide attack. However, no official has confirmed it so far.

The outlawed group of Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.