At least seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and 21 injured after their convoy, travelling from Quetta to Taftan, was attacked on Sunday. While official sources confirmed seven deaths, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that 90 military personnel had been killed.
A statement by a Pakistani official said, “A security forces convoy travelling from Quetta to Taftan was attacked. The convoy, consisting of seven buses and two vehicles, was targeted. One of the buses was hit by a vehicle loaded with IEDs, possibly a suicide attack, while another was targeted by Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs).”
Army Aviation helicopters have been deployed to ferry the injured and drones have been launched for surveillance of the area, the official said.
According to reports, a vehicle loaded with IEDs collided with one of the military buses. It was, reportedly, a suicide bombing.
Noshki Station SHO Zafarullah Sulemani said that initial reports suggest it was a suicide attack. Evidence collected from the scene indicates that the suicide bomber deliberately rammed the explosive-laden vehicle into the military convoy.
He further mentioned that the death toll could rise, and the injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital.
A total of 90 Pakistani military personnel were killed in an attack on their convoy on Sunday, claimed the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
“The Majeed Brigade, the Fidayee unit of the Baloch Liberation Army, targeted a convoy of the occupying Pakistani military a few hours ago in a VBIED Fidayee attack near Rakhshan Mill on the RCD Highway in Noshki. The convoy consisted of eight buses, one of which was completely destroyed in the explosion,” a statement by the BLA said.
It added, “Immediately after the attack, the Fateh Squad of the BLA advanced and completely surrounded another bus, systematically eliminating all military personnel on board, bringing the total number of enemy casualties to 90.”
The BLA said that it would release further details about the attack soon.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack and expressed grief over the deaths of the soldiers.
The incident comes days after BLA insurgents hijacked a train with nearly 440 passengers.
Source: India Today