A tragic explosion rocked a bustling market in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Saturday, killing two children and a woman, and injuring 13 others, including two police officers. The blast, which occurred near the Surkhab Chowk in the Pishin district, is the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting security forces and civilians in the region.
According to reports from The Dawn newspaper, the explosion took place at the main market, instantly claiming the lives of two children and leaving 14 others wounded. The injured were swiftly transported to Pishin Civil Hospital, where the medical superintendent confirmed the fatalities and injuries.
Thirteen of the wounded were later referred to the Quetta Trauma Centre, where a woman succumbed to her injuries. Five others remain in serious condition, fighting for their lives.
Pishin City Station House Officer (SHO) Mujibur Rehman revealed that the two injured policemen are in critical condition. “Apparently, the explosive material was planted in a motorcycle,” SHO Rehman said, adding that three vehicles were damaged in the blast.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Bomb Disposal Squad have arrived at the scene to collect evidence and launch a formal investigation. The explosion occurred near the Pishin deputy commissioner’s office, further heightening concerns about the security situation in the area.
This attack is part of an alarming trend of escalating violence in Pakistan, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The situation has worsened since the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022, vowing to intensify its attacks on security forces.
In a related incident earlier this month, a roadside explosion in the Noshki district injured two pedestrians when a convoy of the paramilitary Frontier Corps was passing by. Last month, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Pishin injured three Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials and three pedestrians, in what police officials described as an attack aimed at a CTD vehicle carrying personnel. On the same day, a soldier of the Quick Response Force of the Frontier Corps South was killed, and seven others were injured in a separate attack in Kech district’s Buleda area.
These incidents highlight the ongoing instability and the persistent threat of terrorism in Pakistan, particularly in regions like Balochistan, where insurgent groups continue to challenge state authority. The recent surge in violence underscores the need for enhanced security measures and a concerted effort to address the underlying causes of unrest in these volatile areas.
As the investigation into the Pishin blast continues, the nation mourns the loss of innocent lives and prays for the swift recovery of those injured in this senseless act of violence.
