A strong explosion at a busy taxi stand in Chaman, the border city of Balochistan, early on Friday morning claimed the lives of at least five people and injured three more. Local authorities verified that passengers’ bags contained bombs that exploded at the crowded transportation hub. While rescuers moved the victims to the District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital, where badly injured victims are still receiving treatment, security officers promptly cordoned off the scene.
An investigation has been started, according to the Balochistan Home Department, which further emphasized that “strict action” would be taken against individuals who enable terrorism in the region. Investigators are analyzing the type of explosives and looking into possible connections to militant or insurgent groups that have stepped up their activities in the area.
In addition to expressing sympathy to the relatives of the victims and ordering authorities to provide the best medical care for the injured, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the incident and reiterated that “elements sowing chaos in Balochistan will never succeed.”
Along with condemning the explosion, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the state’s duty to maintain public safety and promised the families of the victims all government support. This most recent assault demonstrates the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan, where insurgent activities and militant bloodshed have increased recently.
Two civilians were hurt in a second hand grenade attack in Kalat’s Mangocher Bazaar that same day, highlighting the dispersion of intermittent violence among districts. Two days before, an IED targeting a patrol in Kech area killed five Pakistani soldiers, including a captain.
The Chaman incident highlights a persistent pattern of asymmetric strikes meant to jeopardize peace and stability along Balochistan’s vulnerable frontier areas.
