Blast near passenger bus on Nushki-Dalbandin highway kills 7, injures 35

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Blast near passenger bus on Nushki-Dalbandin highway kills 7, injures 35

NUSHKI: At least seven people were killed and 35 injured in a blast near a passenger bus on Nushki-Dalbandin highway as violence-hit Balochistan records another tragic incident today (Sunday).

However, authorities have not yet confirmed the nature of the blast or its cause.

Noting that the injured were immediately shifted to Nushki Hospital soon after the explosion, the police have said that several of the wounded were in critical condition.

According to the hospital administration, an emergency has been declared at Mir Gul Khan Naseer Teaching Hospital to handle the situation. Security forces have cordoned off the area, and investigations are underway.

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Furthermore, as per the police, the injured were being shifted to Quetta via helicopter.

Reacting to the incident, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow while condemning the targeting of innocent people — terming it as extreme brutality.

The security czar also wished for speedy recovery of the injured.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of precious lives while condemning the blast.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve to establish peace in Balochistan at all costs, Bugti said that every possible step would be taken to bring the enemies of peace to justice.

The incident comes days after a major terrorist attack in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district in Balochistan, along with Khybe Pakhtunkhwa, faced the brunt of terrorist attacks — with both provinces accounting for over 96% of terrorist attacks and deaths in Pakistan in 2024 as per a Global Terrorism Index 2025 report.

Dozens of militants, affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), blew up a railway track and assaulted Jaffar Express on Tuesday, carrying more than 440 passengers — who were taken hostage.

The security forces, after a complex clearance operation, neutralised 33 attackers and rescued the hostage passengers.

Apart from five operation casualties, as many as 26 passengers were martyred by the terrorists of which 18 were security personnel belonging to the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC), three were officials from Pakistan Railways and other departments and five were civilians.

Also, three FC personnel were martyred in the militants’ attack targeting a picket before the train ambush.

Furthermore, the terrorist attack, as per Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, was marred by malicious propaganda on social media platforms.

“The Indian media spread propaganda by using fake videos to exaggerate the situation,” he said while terming New Delhi as the main sponsor of the attack.

Meanwhile, the government has announced a compensation package of Rs5.2 million and jobs in the Ministry of Railways to the families of the victims.