Wave of Violence Strikes Balochistan
A series of at least seven explosions rocked Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province over the past 24 hours, with suspected insurgents targeting multiple locations in Quetta and Dera Murad Jamali. The coordinated attacks created widespread fear and panic among residents, particularly in the provincial capital.
Two security guards working for a construction company sustained injuries during the assaults, though authorities confirmed no fatalities from the violent incidents that spanned both Saturday and Sunday.
Multiple Attack Sites Across Province
The violence began on Saturday when insurgents launched grenades at a police checkpoint in Quetta. This was quickly followed by the detonation of an improvised explosive device near an Anti-Terrorism Department vehicle. According to PTI reports, three additional explosions occurred later in the evening, indicating a well-coordinated offensive.
Senior Superintendent of Police Asif Khan provided details about the sophisticated nature of the attacks. The blast near Lohr Karez, on Quetta's outskirts, damaged the main railway line that connects the city with other parts of the country, causing significant disruption to transportation networks.
Critical Infrastructure Targeted
SSP Khan revealed that attackers had planted IEDs on railway tracks and detonated them as a train was scheduled to arrive at Quetta station. The explosion caused substantial damage to the tracks, forcing authorities to suspend all rail services indefinitely.
In another incident, armed men attacked a construction company site on Quetta's Sariab Road using hand grenades. The assault resulted in damaged machinery and injuries to two security personnel guarding the facility.
The violence continued with motorcycle-borne insurgents throwing two hand grenades at the Manzoor Shaheed police station. One grenade exploded while bomb disposal experts successfully defused the second device, preventing further casualties.
In Dera Murad Jamali, attackers targeted a patrolling police vehicle with hand grenades, while additional grenade attacks occurred in the Kech Beg area near a police patrol post in Quetta.
Historical Context of Insurgency
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday's coordinated attacks, but insurgent activity resumed on Sunday morning, indicating the persistent threat in the region.
This latest wave of violence follows several major incidents in Balochistan earlier this year. A powerful car bomb explosion outside paramilitary headquarters in Quetta killed at least ten people and injured several others.
On September 3, a suicide bombing at a political rally in the city claimed 11 lives and wounded more than 40 people. The attack targeted a stadium parking area where hundreds of Balochistan National Party supporters had gathered.
Pakistani security forces continue to battle a longstanding insurgency in Balochistan that has claimed 782 lives in 2024 alone. In March, the Baloch Liberation Army hijacked a train and killed off-duty troops.
Since January, more than 430 people, predominantly security personnel, have been killed in various attacks across the region, including six soldiers in Bannu. The persistent violence underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Pakistan's largest province.
