A deadly bomb blast hit Pakistan’s province of Balochistan on Sunday, killing 4 and injuring 20. The blast happened close to Jabbar Market in Killa Abdullah district, causing huge destruction and panic. The explosion also led to a short exchange of gunfire between militants and security personnel.
The incident follows a deadly attack on Levies forces in Khuzdar earlier this week. There has been a common state of unrest in Balochistan amidst allegations of exploitation of resources by the federal government.
Blast Causes Panic
The explosion was near Jabbar Market, which stands just beside the back wall of the Frontier Corps (FC) Fort. The blast destroyed much. Dozens of shops were brought down. The nearby buildings caught fire. The place immediately turned into chaos.
As per The Express Tribune, fire gutted several market buildings. Residents scrambled for safety as smoke and wreckage filled the space. The explosion was heard around the town.
Four Killed, Including Passersby and Guard
Killa Abdullah Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan confirmed four deaths due to the blast. Twenty others were injured. One of the injured was a security guard employed by the local tribal elder Haji Faizullah Khan Ghabizai. Most of the injured were innocent passersby who had turned out to shop daily.
Police closed off the explosion site. Security personnel initiated a search and clearance drive shortly after the attack. Unknown attackers also had a quick firefight with FC troops after the explosion.
Violence Rages On Across Balochistan
This explosion came after another unfortunate incident in Khuzdar district. Only days before, unknown shooters killed four Levies personnel at a check post in Nal. These successive attacks confirm how unstable Balochistan is.
For almost two decades, the province has experienced separatist upsurges and militancy. Ethnic Baloch forces blame the federal government for exploiting the region’s mineral resources at the expense of local development imperatives.
The occurrence of such attacks indicates the rooted instability in the region. Despite repeated operations, peace evades them. If the authorities do not address the root causes, Balochistan will keep sustaining conflict in Pakistan’s internal security drama.
