Conflicts & War

Bomb kills 4 in capital of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province

Islamabad, Dec 31 (EFE).- A bomb that went off outside a college in the southwestern Quetta city of Pakistan has killed four people and wounded 15, police said on Friday.

The explosion took place Thursday night.

The victims were Islamic seminary students who had gathered to attend a religious conference at the Science College in Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, a police officer said.

“Unknown terrorists detonated an improvised explosive device at 9.40 pm that killed four seminary students and injured 15,” police officer Ramzan Khan told EFE.

The officer said the attackers had planted the IED near a utility pole outside the college gate.

The bomb went off with a bang as conference participants came out of the college after the event.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The conference was organized by the student wing of the extremist Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam group.

“The deceased and the injured belonged to the JUI group,” party spokesperson Abdul Sattar told EFE.

Police estimated that at least a 1.5 kg explosive was used in the blast that damaged several vehicles and motorcycles parked in the vicinity.

Glass windows of several nearby buildings got shattered by the impact of the explosions.

Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed ordered an investigation into the incident.

“We will deal with the culprits of this terror incident with iron hands and will not be afraid of such coward acts of terrorism,” Rashid said in a statement.

The poverty-ridden Balochistan province has for years battled insurgency.

Baloch separatist groups blame the central government for exploiting the rich mineral resources of the province.

The insurgents have targeted the military and infrastructure development projects involving Chinese investment in the past.

Meanwhile, four Pakistani soldiers and two militants died in two anti-terror operations against suspected militants.

The army said four of its troops lost their lives during an exchange of fire with militants in the Mir Ali area of the tribal North Waziristan district.

Though the army did not mention the militant group, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed that security forces raided its hideout last night.

A statement from the militant group claimed that Taliban fighters defended themselves and killed seven Pakistani soldiers in the gunfight before breaking through the security cordon.

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