Deadly suicidal attack in Balochistan killed 5 security personnel

New Delhi, Mar 16: At least five security force personnel were killed and over a dozen injured in a militant attack in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday. The attack occurred when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) troops on the national highway in the Noshki district. According to Pakistani media, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for targeting the FC convoy. Security forces have since cordoned off the area and launched extensive search operations in response to the attack.

Citing Noshki Station House Officer (SHO) Zafarullah Sumalani, Dawn newspaper reported that five FC personnel were confirmed dead and at least 12 others injured in the blast.

SHO indicated that the casualty toll could rise as some of the injured were in critical condition.

Militant activity in Balochistan has escalated in recent months, with insurgents adopting more aggressive tactics to inflict greater casualties and directly target Pakistani security forces.  Sunday’s attack followed another incident the previous night, where a police officer was killed and six others wounded in a blast targeting a Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) vehicle in Quetta. The latest incident of violence also comes shortly after the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train near Balochistan’s Sibi area. In that incident, 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel, were killed. Five security personnel were killed during the subsequent operation that followed to rescue the hostages, in which officials said all 30 BLA militants were killed.