QUETTA, Mar 06 (NNI): Nine policemen were martyred and several others injured in an explosion near a vehicle carrying security officials in the Bolan area of the southwestern Balochistan province on Monday.
Police said the vehicle of the Balochistan Constabulary was targeted near Kinbarri Bridge, adding that the injured officials were being shifted to hospital for treatment. Security forces have surrounded the area to collect evidence from the site. “Preliminary evidence suggested that the explosion was a suicide attack, the police officer said adding that the exact nature of the attack was yet to be ascertained after a complete investigation into the blast.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the attack on security forces, saying such terrorist attacks were part of the nefarious designs of creating instability in the country. He vowed to rid the country of the menace of terrorism. He condoled the families of the martyred security officials and directed authorities to provide the best medical facilities to injured persons.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, former president Asif Ali Zardari and others have also condemned the attack, saying all anti-Pakistan conspiracies would be confronted with public support.
Mr. Zardari termed the terrorist attacks as unforgivable acts, saying the perpetrators could not evade punishment.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the attack. He sought a report from the authorities concerned. He said the whole nation stood with the security forces in the fight against terrorism. Expressing condolence with the families of the martyred officials, he prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
Last month, a blast at a crowded market in the Barkhan district of Balochistan had killed four people and wounded 14. Earlier, two police officers were martyred when a magnetic bomb attached to their vehicle went off in the province’s Khuzdar district.
Violence has surged in Pakistan after the banned TTP unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement last year. The blast also comes as Pakistan and the US are set to kick start a two-day counter-terrorism dialogue in Islamabad today. A US interagency delegation is already in Pakistan for a dialogue on developing approaches to countering terrorist threats both countries have in common.
Additional Secretary (UN&ED) Syed Haider Shah will lead Pakistan delegation and the US delegation will be headed by Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Christopher Landberg.
“The dialogue is aimed at discussing the common threat of terrorism, cooperation at multilateral fora and countering the financing of terrorism,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday.
The two-day dialogue would provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views and share their experiences and best practices in the domain of counter-terrorism. NNI
