Three FC soldiers among seven martyred in Balochistan bus convoy attack

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

NUSHKI: At least seven people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers, were martyred and 35 others wounded in an explosion on paramilitary convoy on the Nushki-Dalbandin highway as violence-hit Balochistan records another tragic incident today (Sunday).

The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) carried out an IED blast and a suicide attack on the FC convoy on Sunday morning, security sources told Geo News. Three FC soldiers and two citizens were martyred in the suicide attack.

In an immediate response, security forces killed three attackers excluding the suicide bomber.

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Heavy contingents of security forces cordoned off the area and commenced a clearance operation, the sources said.

Noting that the injured were immediately shifted to Nushki Hospital soon after the explosion, the police said that two persons succumbed to their wounds, increasing the number of deaths to seven.

Several of the wounded were in critical condition, they added.

According to the hospital administration, an emergency has been declared at Mir Gul Khan Naseer Teaching Hospital to handle the situation.

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 the 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.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both of which share borders with neighbouring Afghanistan, have faced the brunt of the 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 operational 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.

The country witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank.