A security official was killed and six others injured after a roadside explosive device struck a security convoy in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, police said on Sunday. The blast occurred on Saturday in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung district along the Quetta-Karachi National Highway. According to police, the explosive was planted near the road and detonated as the security vehicles passed through the area.
One vehicle was hit in the explosion, while the other vehicles in the convoy remained unaffected, according to a police statement. An exchange of fire followed the blast, but the attackers managed to flee before additional security personnel reached the location. The deceased official and the injured personnel were taken to a nearby hospital, according to reports cited by Xinhua news agency.
Authorities temporarily closed the highway following the attack and launched a search operation to locate those responsible. Police and security agencies were investigating the circumstances surrounding the bombing, though no group was immediately identified as being behind the attack. Further details about the identities and conditions of the injured personnel were not immediately available.
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The incident comes amid continued violence involving armed Baloch groups and Pakistani security forces in Balochistan. The province has witnessed repeated attacks targeting security personnel and government installations, with separatist organisations operating in several parts of the region.
Recently, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for an operation in Saranan town in Pishin district. The group claimed that its fighters took control of a police station and other government buildings, seized weapons and ammunition and later destroyed the police station. Reports also indicated that government offices, including a National Database and Registration Authority facility, were set on fire during the operation.
The latest roadside bombing adds to the security challenges facing authorities in Balochistan, where attacks by armed groups have remained a persistent concern. Security agencies are continuing operations in affected areas as investigators work to determine who carried out the Mastung attack and whether it was connected to other recent incidents in the province.
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