Two civilians were killed and at least 16 people were injured when militants attacked a security post in Mastung district of Balochistan with an explosives-laden vehicle on Thursday. Security forces repelled the attack and killed three attackers.
The attack took place at Kandawa Post on the N-25 highway, about 10 kilometres from Mastung city. The blast also damaged nearby houses and a mosque.
What happened at Kandawa Post
According to Balochistan Police, militants tried to target the Frontier Corps post with a vehicle packed with explosives. Security personnel responded at once and stopped the attack from reaching the post.
The vehicle exploded outside the post. The force of the blast damaged houses near the post and a mosque. Rescue teams reached the area soon after the explosion, and the injured were taken to hospital.
Police said three attackers were killed in the retaliatory operation by security forces. The attackers had also opened fire after the blast, but security personnel held their positions and pushed them back.
Two civilians killed, 16 injured
Police identified the two civilians killed in the attack as Kaleemullah, son of Abdullah, and Bibi Laiba, daughter of Dil Murad. Both died in the blast near their homes.
At least 13 other civilians were injured, according to the list of names in the police statement. Three Frontier Corps personnel were also injured, taking the total number of injured to at least 16. Arab News put the total injured at 17, including four paramilitary soldiers.
Among the injured were three-year-old Muhammad Sinan, 63-year-old Abdul Haq, and several women, including 21-year-old Tania and 25-year-old Bibi Haseena. The injured were taken to hospitals in Mastung and Quetta for treatment.
BLA claims responsibility
The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the main separatist militant groups in Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Police said the attackers belonged to a group the state calls Fitna al-Hindustan, a term used by the authorities for Balochistan-based militant groups. The state uses the term to highlight what it says is India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
No further details about the attackers have been released. Police have not said how many militants took part in the attack in total.
Violence continues in Balochistan
Balochistan, a mineral-rich province that borders Iran and Afghanistan, has seen continuing separatist violence. Militant groups have repeatedly targeted security forces, check posts and infrastructure in the province.
Thursday’s attack came a day after Kohat Ambush: 10 Police Killed in Gold Mining Area Attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 10 police personnel were killed in an ambush during an operation against illegal gold mining.
Officials said further details would be shared once the investigation is complete.
The N-25 is a key highway that links Quetta with Karachi, and security posts along it guard one of the main routes between Balochistan’s capital and the port city. Kandawa Post sits on this route, about 10 kilometres from Mastung city.
The BLA is a banned separatist group and one of the most prominent militant groups operating in Balochistan. It has claimed a series of attacks on security forces in the province in recent years.
Read more of our Trend & Society coverage.
Sources: Dawn, Arab News, Dunya News.
Comments (0)
Be respectful — comments are moderated.