At least five people died in a powerful explosion near the Pakistan-Afghan border in Chaman on Thursday, as security forces eliminated four terrorists linked to the "Indian proxy network Fitna al Hindustan" during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan.
The explosion occurred near a taxi stand in refugee camp area close to the border that it frequented by travellers and locals. Police sources described the explosion "a suicide blast" that claimed lives of at least five people and injured three others.
However, a statement from the Press Wing of the Prime Minister Office, said that Shehbaz Sharif has "expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of six precious lives" in the "bomb blast in a car parking area near the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman".
Eyewitnesses and locals said that the blast was so loud that it was heard across the Chaman city and even in the suburban areas. Soon after the blast, security officials rushed to the scene. Ambulances from nearby hospitals were dispatched immediately to shift the dead and injured to medical facilities.
The Balochistan government condemned the attack. Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti directed the law-enforcement agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and submit a detailed report.
According to the Home Department of Balochistan, the site has been sealed, and specialised teams were currently gathering forensic evidence. Officials confirmed that the process of investigation is under way to determine the nature of the explosion and the possible motives behind it.
The Home Department urged citizens to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information or rumours, and extend full cooperation to security agencies working in the affected area. Security around the Pak-Afghan border has been tightened as part of precautionary measures.
Meanwhile, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, security forces conducted the IBO in the Khuzdar district on Wednesday on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan.
"During the conduct of operation, our forces effectively engaged the terrorists' location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell," the ISPR said. "Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area," it added.
"Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area and the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian sponsored terrorism from the country, and reaffirm the nation's unwavering resolve to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice," it further said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed security forces for successful operation against Fitna-ul-Hindustan in Khuzdar. He praised the professional skills of the officers and personnel of the security forces, a Prime Minister's Office news release said.
The prime minister vowed that the fight against the menace of terrorism would continue until it was completely eradicated from the country. "The entire nation, including me, stands by the armed forces of Pakistan in its unwavering resolve to protect the homeland," the prime minister said.
(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
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