At least five people were killed and more than 30 others wounded in southwestern Pakistan after militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a paramilitary convoy, officials said on Sunday. The attack occurred in the Noshki district of Balochistan, a province plagued by ongoing insurgency.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The attack came just days after the same group hijacked a train in Balochistan, holding hostages for 36 hours.
Senior Superintendent of Police for Noshki district, Hashim Momand, confirmed the casualty figures, stating that the injured security personnel were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terrorism.” His statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating militancy, particularly in regions bordering Afghanistan.
The latest bombing follows a deadly attack last Tuesday when BLA militants seized control of the Jaffar Express in a remote mountainous area of Balochistan. The insurgents blew up sections of the railway track, leaving 31 soldiers and civilians dead, according to Pakistan’s military.
Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province bordering Afghanistan to the north of Balochistan, security forces faced a surge in attacks. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned multiple assaults on police stations but did not disclose casualty figures. However, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), another militant group, claimed responsibility for 16 attacks within a single day.
The escalating violence has put pressure on Pakistani authorities, who have vowed to intensify their crackdown on insurgent groups. Officials blame the rise in attacks on militants allegedly operating from Afghanistan, a charge that the ruling Afghan Taliban has repeatedly denied.
Security experts note that militant activity in the region typically increases in the spring as the harsh winter conditions subside, making it easier for insurgent groups to mobilize. With tensions rising, Pakistan’s security forces remain on high alert as they brace for further threats in the coming weeks.
