In a tragic incident in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, a female suicide bomber carried out an attack that left one person dead and wounded three others. The assailant targeted a paramilitary patrol vehicle on Monday, as confirmed by a police representative. Such occurrences involving female bombers are quite unusual in Pakistan. The most recent incident of this kind was recorded in 2022 in Karachi, where a similar attack resulted in the death of three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver when an explosion hit their van at a university.
The attack took place in Kalat, located approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) southwest of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. Images from the site displayed the remnants of a severely damaged Frontier Corps vehicle, which was left with its doors blown off by the blast. Police official Habibullah reported that the explosion claimed the life of the vehicle’s driver and injured three other security personnel. Additionally, the body parts of the bomber were found at the scene of the attack.
No group has immediately taken responsibility for the bombing. However, it is suspected that the Balochistan Liberation Army might be involved. This organization is known for its insurgency against the central government, seeking independence for the province. Currently, both Pakistan and the United States label it as a terrorist organization and estimate its fighting force to be about 3,000 strong. The group frequently targets security personnel and, in previous instances, has also attacked Chinese nationals involved in large-scale projects across the country.
