A powerful car bomb detonated outside the headquarters of Pakistan’s paramilitary forces in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province, on Tuesday, killing at least eight individuals and injuring several others, according to local authorities.
The attack began when four militants inside the vehicle exited and engaged in a fierce firefight with security personnel before the explosion occurred, police reported.
Residents nearby described the blast as so intense that it was heard from miles away. Ambulances quickly arrived on the scene, and the wounded were rushed to nearby hospitals, reports AP/UNB.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, though separatist groups are suspected. These groups are known to target both security forces and civilians in Balochistan, a region frequently affected by insurgency.
Balochistan’s provincial health minister Bakhat Kakar expressed concern that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
Local television and CCTV footage from the site show the vehicle stopping at the security compound’s entrance before the explosion, followed by gunfire. Windows in surrounding buildings were shattered, and nearby vehicles were damaged.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, stating that the security forces retaliated and killed all four attackers.
“Terrorists cannot break the nation’s resolve through cowardly acts, and the sacrifices of our people and security forces will not go in vain,” Bugti said in a statement, reaffirming his government’s commitment to restoring peace and security in the region.
This attack follows a suicide bombing outside a stadium near Quetta a few weeks ago, which targeted nationalist party supporters, killing at least 13 and injuring 30.
Balochistan has been plagued by insurgency for years, with groups like the Baloch Liberation Army seeking independence from the Pakistani government. These groups predominantly target security forces and civilians.
