Pakistan: Three Killed, Five Injured in Separate Blast and Shooting Incidents in Balochistan

QUETTA (Terror Monitor) — Three people, including two children, were killed and five others injured in separate incidents involving an explosion in Panjgur district and a shooting in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, police said.

The two children were killed and three others injured when an explosive device detonated in the Gwargo area of Panjgur district. In a separate incident in Quetta, a young man belonging to the Hazara Shia community was killed and two others were injured when unidentified armed attackers opened fire on them.

Two Children Killed in Explosion in Panjgur

The explosion occurred in the Fateh Ali Bazaar area of Gwargo, where five children aged between eight and 12 were playing, according to local police.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Javed Baloch told local media by telephone that the children noticed a solid object while playing. One of the children attempted to break it by throwing a stone at it, triggering an explosion.

The blast killed two children and injured three others, Baloch said.

The injured children were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Police said an investigation was underway to determine the nature of the object, the circumstances in which it was left in the area and how it detonated. Authorities had not immediately confirmed whether the object was an improvised explosive device, unexploded ordnance or another type of explosive material.

The incident has raised concerns about the dangers posed to children by unidentified objects that may contain explosives, particularly in areas affected by insecurity and armed conflict.

Hazara Shia Man Killed in Quetta Shooting

In a separate incident in Quetta, unidentified armed attackers opened fire on members of the Hazara Shia community, killing a young man and injuring two others, police said.

According to police, the victims were residents of Hazara Town who had travelled to the Bolan area for a picnic. They were returning to Quetta when the attackers targeted them in the Western Bypass area.

Abid Bukhari, a senior police officer with the New Sariab police division, confirmed the shooting and said one young man was killed while two others sustained injuries.

The injured victims were taken for medical treatment. Their identities and conditions were not immediately disclosed.

Bukhari said police were investigating the incident. However, he ruled out targeted killing as a possible motive, according to the initial account provided by the police official.

Authorities had not announced any arrests or identified the attackers, and no group had claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Security Concerns in Balochistan

The incidents occurred in Balochistan, a resource-rich province that has experienced a prolonged insurgency, sectarian violence and attacks by armed groups.

Members of the Hazara Shia community in Quetta have historically faced sectarian attacks, prompting heightened security measures in areas where the community lives. However, police have not established a sectarian motive in the latest shooting, and the circumstances of the attack remain under investigation.

The explosion in Panjgur also highlights the risks posed by unidentified explosive objects in civilian areas. Police have yet to determine the origin of the object involved in the blast or whether it was connected to any militant activity.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing. Authorities have not provided further details about possible suspects, the victims’ identities or any potential links between the two incidents.

The two incidents left three people dead and five injured, according to the initial information released by police.