ISLAMABAD: At least one policeman was killed and 17 others, including police, were wounded in a blast in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Monday.
Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan in terms of land area, has long been marred by a separatist insurgency and sectarian divides that have claimed hundreds of lives.
The injured people in Monday’s blast included 13 policemen and four civilians, who were taken to Civil Hospital, according to Balochistan government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani. Health authorities later moved the critically wounded to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Quetta.
“The blast targeted a police truck near Balochistan University,” Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove told reporters in Quetta. “The deceased and injured policemen were deployed on the security of Baloch Student Organization.”
A spokesperson for the Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department said a remote-controlled bomb was used, and the blast was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED) fitted inside a motorbike.
“The explosives weighing 4kg exploded when a police truck passed by,” the CTD spokesperson said, adding that motorbike was parked near the exit gate of Balochistan University on Saryab Road.
Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has asked the provincial police chief to submit a report on the blast.
“[We] will not let terrorists destroy Balochistan’s peace,” he said in a statement, promising to provide all possible assistance and resources to the Balochistan government.
No group has yet claimed responsibility, but Baloch separatist groups have claimed similar attacks in the past.
The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and Baloch Liberation Front have been engaged in a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades, calling for independence for the gas- and mineral-rich province.
Daesh militants also have a footprint in the region and have been involved in attacks on ethnic Hazara Shiites.
Policeman killed, 17 injured in blast in southwestern Pakistan
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Policeman killed, 17 injured in blast in southwestern Pakistan
- Explosion targeted police vehicle in provincial capital of Balochistan province
- Counter-terrorism official says explosion was due to remote-controlled IED
Pakistan condemns Netanyahu’s ‘hexagon of alliances’ plan, says alert to growing India-Israel defense ties
- Israel’s Netanyahu last week proposed an alliance of countries in and around Middle East against its adversaries
- Pakistan maintains “robust military preparedness” to deter any potential aggression, says foreign office spokesperson
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson on Thursday condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement about forming a “hexagon of alliances” within or around the Middle East, saying Islamabad was alert to growing defense ties between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu on Sunday outlined plans to form a new regional bloc, describing it as a “hexagon of alliances” that he said could include Israel, India, Greece and Cyprus, along with other unnamed Arab, African and Asian states. He said the grouping would collectively stand against what he described as “radical” adversaries.
His comments came days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day trip to bolster ties. The two are expected to discuss cooperation in science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, technology, defense and security during the trip.
The statement drew a sharp response from Pakistan’s Senate, which unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday rejecting Netanyahu’s remarks.
“I would also like to draw your attention to the recent resolution adopted by the Senate of Pakistan that strongly condemned such remarks and attempts to undermine Muslim unity,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters during a weekly press briefing.
“We continue to condemn these provocative steps and statements by the leadership of the occupying power that threaten regional peace and stability,” he added.
Netanyahu had also said Israel’s goal was to create an axis of nations that see eye to eye against what he described as the “radical Shia” and “radical Sunni” axis of nations.
Andrabi said attempts to divide the Muslim world along sectarian lines were a “nefarious design” on Netanyahu’s part.
India is Israel’s largest arms buyer and second-largest trading partner in Asia, after China. In response to a question on India’s growing defense ties with Israel, Andrabi said Pakistan remained cognizant of the risks posed by such cooperation.
“Yes, we remain seized of the defense ties between Israel and India,” the spokesperson said, noting that certain “systems and platforms” may have been used by India against Pakistan in the past.
“We are alive to the threats they pose to our security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to regional peace and stability.”
Andrabi said Pakistan maintained “robust military preparedness” to deter any potential aggression from hostile forces.
‘UTMOST CAUTION EXERCISED’
Andrabi spoke about Pakistan’s recent strikes against alleged militant camps in Afghanistan, saying Islamabad had conducted them in self-defense and with extreme caution to avoid casualties.
Pakistan said it carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan against militant camps and hideouts in three provinces on Saturday night, killing over 100 militants. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of violating its territorial sovereignty and killing dozens of civilians. Kabul has vowed to retaliate.
Andrabi said the strikes were carried out to ensure protection for the lives of the people of Pakistan and to prevent “imminent terrorist attacks.”
“These actions were directed solely against identified terrorist camps and hideouts, and utmost caution was exercised to prevent harm to civilians,” he said.
He warned Pakistan would take necessary measures under its right to self-defense against “terrorist threats” emanating from Afghan territory.
On the safety of Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan following the strikes, Andrabi said Islamabad had raised the issue with Afghan authorities, adding that Islamabad expected “foolproof security” for Pakistani diplomats and civilians.
