A bomb explosion in the southwestern Pakistani city of Pishin killed two children and injured 16 people on Saturday, local police officials reported. The incident occurred near police headquarters, raising concerns about security in the volatile Balochistan province.
Manzoor Buledi, Senior Superintendent of Police in Pishin, told the media that the remote-controlled bomb was attached to a motorcycle parked in the vicinity of the police headquarters. Among the injured were seven policemen, highlighting the apparent targeting of law enforcement personnel.
Police officer Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman provided further details, stating, “Explosives were planted in a motorcycle which was parked in the area.” He confirmed that the two children killed were passing through the area at the time of the detonation.
The blast underscores the ongoing security challenges in Balochistan, a province that has long grappled with separatist insurgencies and militant activities. Pishin, located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of the provincial capital Quetta, has seen sporadic incidents of violence in recent years.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over what he termed the “martyrdom” of young children in the explosion. In an official statement, Sharif conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and said he was praying for the recovery of the injured policemen and civilians.
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. The province has been a hotbed of both separatist and Islamist militant activities, with various groups targeting security forces and civilians.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with forensic teams combing the blast site for evidence. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, a common occurrence in the immediate aftermath of such incidents in the region.
