A roadside bomb exploded near a passenger bus in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday, resulting in one death and eight injuries. The incident took place on the highway, approximately 25 kilometers from Khuzdar town, as the bus was traveling from Rawalpindi to Khuzdar.

Khuzdar District Commissioner, Yasir Iqbal Dashti, confirmed the fatality and the injuries, noting that the injured were promptly transported to the Khuzdar Trauma Centre for medical treatment. According to initial investigations, an improvised explosive device (IED) had been planted in a parked Alto vehicle along the road. The bomb was detonated as the passenger bus approached the vehicle.

As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group operating in the region, has been linked to several similar incidents in recent months, including a terror attack on a passenger bus in Turbat earlier this year, which resulted in four deaths and 32 injuries.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the bombing, as the region remains a hotspot for insurgent activity and violence. The BLA has previously targeted both military and civilian infrastructure in their ongoing fight for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan.

The attack adds to the ongoing security challenges faced by Balochistan, where bombings and violence have become increasingly frequent. Local authorities have stepped up security measures in the wake of the bombing, with a focus on securing highways and public transport routes.

The incident highlights the volatile security situation in Pakistan’s southwestern province, which has long been a site of separatist unrest and militant activity.

Sources By Agencies