A vehicle-borne suicide bomber on Sunday attacked a security forces convoy in Balochistan’s Noskhi district, leaving three security personnel and two civilians martyred, the military’s media wing said in a statement.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as a result of the attack, “five brave sons of soil embraced shahadat (martyrdom)”.
The martyred soldiers were identified as Nawabshah district’s Havildar Manzoor Ali, Naseer Abad district’s Havildar Ali Bilawal and Badin district’s Naik Abdul Raheem.
Bus drivers Jalaluddin from Quetta and Muhammad Naeem from Kharan were also martyred, according to the ISPR.
“In the ensuing sanitisation operation, the terrorists were pursued and after [an] intense fire exchange, three terrorists were effectively neutralised by the security forces,” the ISPR said.
The military’s media wing added that sanitisation operations in the area would continue and the “perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act will be brought to justice”.
“Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers and valiant civilians further strengthen our resolve,” the statement concluded.
BLA behind attack: state media
Earlier today, state media reported that three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were among five lives lost as the BLA targeted an FC convoy on a highway in Balochistan’s Noshki district.
The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) emerged as a key perpetrator of terrorist violence in Pakistan in 2024, as frequency of high-intensity attacks by outlawed groups has been increasing in the province, according to security reports.
According to PTV News, security forces had cordoned off the area, blocking all escape routes of terrorists.
Noshki Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hashim Momand said more than 30 paramilitary force members were wounded, Reuters reported.
Earlier, Noshki Station House Officer (SHO) Zafarullah Sumalani had said that five FC personnel were martyred while at least 12 others were injured in the explosion.
According to SHO Sumalani, evidence from the incident site suggested that a suicide attacker rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the FC convoy.
The injured were being shifted to the FC Camp and Noshki Teaching Hospital, where an emergency had been imposed, the police officer added.
SHO Sumalani feared that the death toll and number of injured would rise since several of the injured were in critical condition.
