In a tragic incident on Tuesday, militants targeted a border force headquarters in Quetta, Balochistan province, detonating a car loaded with explosives. This attack resulted in the deaths of six civilians and four personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC).
CCTV footage obtained by media outlets reveals the moments leading up to the explosion, showing an open-backed van approaching the entrance of the FC headquarters. A senior local government official, who opted to remain anonymous, provided insight into the events, stating that a suicide bomber, driving a Suzuki van, initiated the detonation as five accomplices attempted to breach the compound shortly thereafter. The ensuing exchange of gunfire led to the deaths of all attackers, but not before causing significant casualties among security forces and civilians.
As of now, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the assault. However, the area has been a hotspot for violence attributed to Baloch separatists who have been engaged in an increasingly deadly insurgency, alongside regular attacks by the Pakistani Taliban targeting security forces.
Balochistan, despite being Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, faces profound socio-economic challenges and regularly features among the lowest in human development indicators. Baloch separatists assert that their fight is against longstanding discrimination faced by the Baloch people on their indigenous lands.
The Pakistani military has been involved in combating this insurgency for over a decade. The situation has escalated in 2024, marked by a notable spike in violence that saw 782 fatalities. According to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), there were 521 terrorist attacks recorded in the country throughout 2024, with 567 incidents occurring this year. The majority of this violence is confined to border areas adjoining Afghanistan.
Amir Rana, president of PIPS, noted an alarming trend of increasing terrorist activity in Balochistan so far this year. Just a day prior to the Quetta incident, nine soldiers were killed in a separate blast in Upper South Waziristan, highlighting the ongoing and intensifying security challenges in the region.
