Taliban suicide bomber blows himself up in Pakistan; 4 killed, 20 injured

Security personnel examine the site of a blast after a suicide bomber on a motorbike blew himself up near a checkpoint in the southwestern city of Quetta. Pic/AFP

A suicide bomber of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan blew himself up in the country's restive Balochistan province, killing at least four security personnel and injuring 20 people, a top police official said.

The attack targeted a Frontier Corps (FC) check post on the Mastung road in Quetta, the provincial capital, Deputy Inspector General of Quetta police Azhar Akram said.

Akram told reporters that initial investigations suggested that the suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden motorcycle into a vehicle carrying Frontier Corps. "The bomb disposal squad has estimated that the motorcycle was laden with six kilogrammes of explosives," he said. Akram confirmed that four people were killed in the blast while 20 others, 18 soldiers and 2 bystanders, were injured in the attack.

"Condition of some of the injured is critical and the casualties could rise," he said. According to the Counter-Terrorism Department of Balochistan, the blast was a "suicide attack" and was carried out near the Sona Khan check post. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, sending a grim signal that the change of government in Kabul might not end the woes of Pakistan as the country looks towards the Taliban to rein in the TTP rebels who are hiding in Afghanistan.

According to security forces, the vehicle targeted in the attack was providing security to vegetable sellers belonging to the Hazara community of the province. Condemning the attack, Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter to offer condolences to the families of those killed.

"Condemn the TTP suicide attack on FC check post, Mastung Road, Quetta. My condolences go to the families of the martyrs & prayers for the recovery of the injured. Salute our security forces & their sacrifices to keep us safe by thwarting foreign-backed terrorists' designs," he said in a tweet. Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove also condemned the attack and sought a report.

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"Security forces have given countless sacrifices in the war against terrorism. The whole nation is indebted to the martyrs. We are fighting the terrorists with our full strength and will continue to do so. These violent attacks will not lower the morale of the forces," he said, adding that the war would continue until total peace was achieved.

Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said, "Condemnable TTP attack today on FC check post in Quetta today. Condolences and prayers go to the families of the martyrs." President of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and said that the deterioration of law and order was a cause of concern. Balochistan has been facing low-level violence by the TTP rebels and Baloch nationalists. The suicide attack took place less than two weeks after three Levies police personnel were killed and as many injured when their vehicle hit a landmine in the province's Ziarat district.

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