In a tragic incident on Saturday, at least six people, including paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps (FC), were killed and more than 25 others injured in a suicide bombing in Pakistan's volatile Balochistan province. The attack occurred as a bus transporting FC personnel from Karachi to Turbat was targeted approximately seven kilometers west of Turbat city, according to local police official Rashid-ur-Rehman

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group that has been engaged in a long-standing conflict for autonomy, quickly claimed responsibility for the bombing. BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch stated that the assault aimed at a convoy of Pakistani troops.

Initial investigations suggest that the bus was possibly carrying a high-ranking police officer, SSP Zohaib Mohsin, who was attending a family wedding, further complicating the situation. As details unfold, the extent of the casualties and injuries is being assessed by local authorities (source: India Times).

Balochistan has been a hotspot for increasing violence, with the BLA frequently targeting security forces and Pakistani nationals from other provinces, particularly Punjabis. The province shares borders with both Afghanistan and Iran and has seen a surge in conflict, exacerbated by ethnic tensions and historical grievances against external exploitation, particularly concerning local resources and infrastructure projects, especially those involving Chinese interests (source: South China Morning Post).

This bombing marks a troubling continuation of violence in Pakistan, comprising a series of assaults that have claimed many lives throughout the past year. Recent statistics from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies highlight a significant toll, with numerous security and militant casualties reported over recent months.