Pakistani police say 10 attackers were killed when security forces thwarted an assault on two air bases near the southwestern city Quetta.

Fighters armed with grenades and automatic weapons attacked the Samungli and Khalid bases on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, late on Thursday night.

"Security forces deployed at Samungli airbase opened fire as they spotted the armed militants trying to barge into the base," provincial Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said. He added that no aircraft or air force installations had been damaged as security forced had prevented the fighters from entering the base.

Four bombs were also defused near the Khalid base, he said.

Police chief Muhammad Amleesh said 11 security personnel were wounded in the attack. Two civilians were also reportedly injured.

Amleesh said five fighters were killed at Samungli and five at Khalid base.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Local reporters said they heard approximately 40 bangs of explosion during the gun battle that lasted for eight hours.

The attack came as the nation was celebrating its 68th Independence Day.

The country has suffered several attacks on airports recently. Taliban fighters launched a raid on Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport in June, killing 29 people.

Saadullah Akhter contributed to this article.