Updated

Police say officers have raided a suspected militant hideout in central Pakistan, triggering a shootout. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties.

Police officer Rana Khalid said an explosion was also heard during Thursday's raid in the town of Pir Mahal in the eastern province of Punjab. He told Geo television the shootout was still continuing.

He gave no other details. News channels aired live footage of police surrounding a home and exchanging fire.

It was unclear what prompted the raid, although authorities have stepped up operations against militants in the past two weeks after a suicide attack in Punjab province killed provincial home minister Shuja Khanzada and 13 others.