A powerful bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded near a police vehicle in Mastung, Balochistan, in southwest Pakistan on Friday, killing seven people, including five children. The blast occurred as a police vehicle passed near a motorized rickshaw carrying schoolchildren, who were among the victims. Local police chief Fateh Mohammad reported that a police officer and a passerby also lost their lives in the tragic incident.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, officials suspect separatist groups, particularly from Balochistan, which has experienced a resurgence of violence targeting both security forces and civilians. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Balochistan’s chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, condemned the bombing, pledging intensified efforts to dismantle insurgent groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The BLA and other separatist groups have long sought independence from Pakistan’s central government and have conducted numerous attacks in recent months.
The blast has heightened concerns from Chinese officials, as Balochistan is a key region in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. China’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, recently urged Islamabad to enhance protections for Chinese workers on CPEC projects. Pakistani officials reiterated their commitment to safeguarding foreign nationals, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch expressing the government’s commitment to Chinese security in Pakistan.
As Pakistan confronts the challenges of insurgency, both Pakistani and Chinese leaders continue to seek solutions to maintain security and foster economic growth through CPEC projects in the region.