Car bomb in Pakistan’s restive southwest leaves 4 dead, 20 injured

A car bomb exploded near a market in Qillah Abdullah, Balochistan, Pakistan, killing four people and injuring 20, officials said, Al Jazeera reported. The blast damaged several shops and the outer wall of a nearby paramilitary building. Local security sources indicated the improvised explosive device (IED) was planted in a parked car and likely intended to target the paramilitary site, but detonated prematurely, killing only civilian bystanders. No group has claimed responsibility.

Balochistan, a province bordering Afghanistan, is plagued by violence from separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), designated a terrorist organization by the US in 2019. The local ISIL chapter has also increased attacks recently. The bombing follows a series of deadly incidents, including the killing of four paramilitary officials days earlier and a March attack by BLA fighters that killed 33 people.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring militants launching attacks across the border, a charge denied by Kabul. The BLA recently appealed for Indian support against Pakistan amid rising regional tensions.