The Balochistan government has confirmed with deep sorrow and grave concern that a passenger train shuttle service was targeted in a suicide vehicle bomb attack near Chaman Phatak on Sunday.
According to initial reports, the tragic incident claimed the lives of 14 people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, while 20 others were injured, among them women and children. Most of the victims were ordinary citizens, passengers, pedestrians, and residents of nearby homes, said a handout issued here. One family lost four members: father, mother, son, and daughter in the blast, plunging the entire province into mourning.
Immediately after the attack, the provincial government launched emergency measures. All major public hospitals in Quetta enforced emergency protocols.
Following the blast, the district administration established a central control room at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to coordinate relief operations and monitor the situation. Additionally, a special monitoring and coordination cell has been activated at the Balochistan Home Department.
Both the federal and provincial governments have strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack, vowing that all possible measures will be taken to eradicate terrorism, protect citizens, and establish lasting peace in the province. The government has made it clear that those who shed the blood of innocent civilians, along with their facilitators, will not be forgiven and will be brought to their logical end.
Later, a high-level meeting was held in Quetta on Sunday under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Mir Sarfraz Bugti to review the situation following the terrorist attack near Chaman Phatak.
Inspector General of Balochistan Police, Muhammad Tahir Khan, presented the initial report of the blast and briefed participants on the progress of investigations. Senior officials from law enforcement agencies also attended the meeting.
The meeting strongly condemned the cowardly attack targeting innocent civilians, including women and children, and expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured that the federal government stands firmly with the people of Balochistan in this time of grief.
Separately, security forces have killed 11 terrorists belonging to the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) alias ‘Fitna-al-Khwarij’ group during multiple intelligence-based operations in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan over the last 48 hours, the military’s media wing said on Sunday.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations involved intense exchanges of fire, resulting in the elimination of the “Indian sponsored” terrorists and the recovery of a large cache of weapons and ammunition.
The ISPR stated that the neutralised individuals were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the region and alleged they received foreign sponsorship.
“Sanitisation operations continue to eliminate holed up Khwarij from these areas,” it said. The military reiterated that the counter-terrorism campaign will continue at full pace under the federal government’s “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision to eradicate terrorism from the country, it added.
Meanwhile, at least 16 terrorists, including two commanders, were killed while two policemen embraced martyrdom during an ongoing joint operation by the Pakistan Army, police, and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in the Miryan area of Bannu, security sources said on Sunday.
According to sources, the operation was launched a day earlier after reports of militant presence in the area. One additional militant was killed during continued action, taking the total to 16. The slain militants include wanted commander Zamri Noor and Afghan militant commander Abdullah Saeed. Security forces also destroyed several militant hideouts during the operation.