Bomber hits buses carrying forces, killing 5 in Balochistan

A suicide car bomber targeted a convoy of buses carrying security forces in Balochistan province on Sunday, killing at least five officers and wounding 10 others, police said.

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The attack occurred in Naushki, a district in Balochistan, said Zafar Zamanani, a local police chief.

“There were seven buses in the convoy which was heading to Taftan (on the Iranian border). At Noshiki, a car laden with explosives hit one of the buses,” said Zafar. The dead and wounded, some of whom in critical condition, were transported to a hospital. Authorities said separatist rebels opened fire on the buses after the car bombing.

Senior Superintendent of Police for Nouskhi district Hashim Momand said more than 30 paramilitary force members were also wounded.

Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan, said security forces returned fire on Sunday and killed at least four of the attackers.

The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a statement condemned the attack, which came as Pakistan deals with a growing security crisis in its regions bordering Afghanistan.

Train services to and from Balochistan, which were suspended after the attack on Jaffar Express, are likely to be resumed by next weekend, Pakistan Railways officials said, according to a report.