NUSHKI: At least five people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers, were martyred and 35 others wounded in an explosion on paramilitary convoy on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway as violence-hit Balochistan records another tragic incident today (Sunday).
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a vehicle borne suicide bomber exploded himself on a security forces convoy in Nushki District of Balochistan. As a result, five people, including three security forces personnel, embraced martyrdom.
The martyred include Havildar Manzoor Ali, resident of District Nawab Shah, Havildar Ali Bilawal, resident of District Naseer Abad, Naik Abdul Raheem, resident of District Badin, civilian driver Jalal ud Din, resident of District Quetta and civilian driver Muhammad Naeem, resident of District Kharan.
“In the ensuing sanitisation operation, the terrorists were pursued and after intense fire exchange, three terrorists were effectively neutralised by the security forces,” the ISPR added.
Sanitisation operations in the area would continue and perpetrators of this henious and cowardly act will be brought to justice, it said.
“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers and valiant civilians further strengthen our resolve,” it concluded.
Earlier, sources told media that the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out an IED blast and a suicide attack on the FC convoy on Sunday morning. In an immediate response, security forces killed three attackers excluding the suicide bomber.
Heavy contingents of security forces cordoned off the area and commenced a clearance operation, the sources said.
The injured were immediately shifted to Nushki Hospital soon after the explosion, the police said.
Several of the wounded were in critical condition, they added.
According to the hospital administration, an emergency has been declared at Mir Gul Khan Naseer Teaching Hospital to handle the situation.
Furthermore, as per the police, the injured were being shifted to Quetta via helicopter.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast in Nushki and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the blast.
The premier prayed that may Allah Almighty elevate the rank of those martyred in the blast and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Shehbaz also prayed for the early recovery of injured persons and directed that the injured be provided with the best possible treatment.
He said: “Such cowardly acts cannot deter our resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.
Reacting to the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow while condemning the targeting of innocent people — terming it as extreme brutality.
The security czar also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious lives while condemning the blast.
Reaffirming the government’s resolve to establish peace in Balochistan at all costs, Bugti said that every possible step would be taken to bring the enemies of peace to justice.
The incident comes days after a major terrorist attack in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district in Balochistan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both of which share borders with neighbouring Afghanistan, have faced the brunt of the terrorist attacks — with both provinces accounting for over 96% of terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan in 2024 as per a Global Terrorism Index 2025 report.
Dozens of militants, affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), blew up a railway track and assaulted Jaffar Express on Tuesday, carrying more than 440 passengers — who were taken hostage.
The security forces, after a complex clearance operation, neutralised 33 attackers and rescued the hostage passengers.
Apart from five operational casualties, as many as 26 passengers were martyred by the terrorists, of which 18 were security personnel belonging to the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC), three were officials from Pakistan Railways and other departments, and five were civilians.
Also, three FC personnel were martyred in the militants’ attack targeting a picket before the train ambush.
The country witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank. –Agencies
