Deadly blast in Pakistan’s Balochistan claims lives of seven, including five schoolchildren

Seven people, including five schoolchildren and a police officer, were killed in a powerful explosion on Friday in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, officials said.

The explosion occurred around 8:35 a.m. and reportedly targeted a police van near a crowded area in Mastung district, local media reported.

"The police van that came under attack was taking personnel for the protection of polio staff," Rahmat Ullah, a senior police officer, told AFP. He added that "there is a girls' school near the place of the attack" in the city of Mastung.

Senior police officer Abdul Fatah told AFP that the victims included a police officer, five children, and a shopkeeper.

A member of the bomb disposal squad and a police officer survey the crime scene after a blast in Mastung, Pakistan November 1, 2024.Reuters

Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mian Dad Imrani said the explosive device was planted on a motorcycle. The children killed in the blast were between five and 10 years old, he added. Four police officers were also among the injured.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Focal point of insurgency

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, hosts significant China-led projects, including a strategic port and a gold and copper mine.

The province has long been a focal point of a separatist insurgency led by ethnic Baloch militants, and recent months have seen an uptick in attacks.

Earlier this week, five people were killed in an attack by armed men on a

in Balochistan’s Panjgur district. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the most prominent separatist groups, claimed responsibility for this attack, along with two other killings in Kech and Quetta districts.

Separately, unidentified gunmen killed 21 miners working at privately operated coal mines earlier this month.

In addition to Baloch separatists, the region also has a significant presence of religiously motivated militant groups that frequently target police and security forces.

Pakistani officials contend that militants, mainly associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), often launch attacks from Afghanistan and have accused the Afghan Taliban of facilitating anti-Pakistan groups, an allegation Kabul denies.

Condemnations

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast. Expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of children and a police officer, he prayed for the elevation of the martyrs' ranks and for patience for their families.

The prime minister directed authorities to identify those responsible and ensure they face appropriate punishment.

The Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack, expressing deep sorrow for the loss of innocent lives, particularly young children.

“There is no justification for this brutality,” he said. "Those who target innocent children are not worthy of any mercy."

Naqvi extended condolences to the victims' families and called for swift justice against the perpetrators.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the attack, offering condolences to the families of the police officer and the innocent children.

"The terrorists, who once targeted poor laborers, are now targeting innocent children," he said. "This inhumane act is deeply condemnable."

Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also strongly condemned the bomb blast, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

Sadiq conveyed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the grieving families of the police officer and innocent children who lost their lives in the attack.

In condolence message, Ayaz Sadiq expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, sharing in their grief.

“The perpetrators who target innocent citizens and children are enemies of humanity and peace,” said Sadiq.

He condemned the targeting of innocent children and civilians by terrorists for their nefarious purposes.