An IED blast in Khuzdar, Balochistan, Pakistan, resulted in five fatalities and five injuries on Wednesday. The explosion, caused by a remote-detonated device attached to a motorcycle, occurred at Naal Market near a college. Two of the injured are in serious condition. Prompt action by security forces thwarted a potential attack in nearby Pishin, leading to the arrest of four terrorists. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack and committed to providing top medical care for the injured while vowing to combat terrorism. Recent reports indicate a rise in violence in the region, with numerous attacks occurring.
Islamabad:
On Wednesday, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Khuzdar district of Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province claimed the lives of five individuals and injured five more.
According to Naal police Station House Officer (SHO) Bahawal Khan Pindrani, the detonation was triggered remotely by an IED that had been affixed to a motorcycle.
“The explosion occurred at Naal Market, and the injured have been transported to the hospital,” he noted.
District Health Officer Rafiq Sasoli mentioned that the condition of two injured individuals is critical, and they have received five deceased bodies at the morgue.
Khan added that a bomb disposal squad was on-site conducting an investigation.
Khuzdar Senior Superintendent of Police Javed Zehri informed a television channel that the blast took place near a college within the market area and also damaged several vehicles.
He stated that swift action from security forces thwarted another potential attack in Balochistan’s Pishin region.
“Based on intelligence, four terrorists were apprehended in Pishin while they were plotting a terror attack on Wednesday,” he elaborated.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed strong condemnation of the blast in a statement, asserting that directives were issued to ensure the injured receive top-notch medical care.
“We will eliminate terrorism in all its manifestations,” Bugti was quoted as stating. “Those who threaten peace will not succeed in their malicious goals, and all those responsible for this incident will face justice.” Balochistan has endured violence for over two decades. On January 26, a car bomb explosion near a passenger bus traveling from Khuzdar to Rawalpindi resulted in two fatalities and seven injuries.
The Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, reported that the country experienced 79 terrorist attacks last month, leading to the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, in addition to 45 civilians and 81 security personnel sustaining injuries.
It was noted that during counter-terrorism operations, 156 terrorists have been killed, 20 injured, and another 60 captured.
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