QUETTA: At least 11 people, including Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were killed and more than 30 others injured in a suicide attack on the FC headquarters in Quetta on Tuesday. Security forces shot dead six attackers as they attempted to storm the compound following the explosion.
According to security sources, the attack occurred at around 11:30am when a vehicle packed with explosives rammed into the main gate. The powerful blast killed both security personnel and civilians, while dozens sustained injuries. The bodies and wounded were immediately shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta and the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where an emergency was declared. Doctors confirmed that several victims were in critical condition.
Following the explosion, the attackers attempted to enter the premises but were intercepted by FC personnel. A fierce gun battle ensued, during which all the attackers were killed. Security forces later recovered 15 hand grenades, three under-barrel grenade launchers, and four Kalashnikov rifles.
Earlier, Balochistan Health Minister Bakth Mohammad Kakar confirmed the casualties, stating that 10 people, including two FC soldiers, had been killed and more than 30 were injured. He lauded the quick action of security personnel in preventing a greater loss of life. Expressing condolences to the families of the martyrs, he assured that all available resources were being used to provide the best possible medical care to the wounded. However, later, according to Geo News, the death toll reached 11 after an injured person succumbed to injuries.
Security sources said that the blast was a suicide bombing carried out using an explosives-laden vehicle by India-sponsored terrorists dressed as FC personnel. They said that a terrorist drove the vehicle into the FC headquarters, while five other terrorists attempted to storm the building’s premises.
However, all six terrorists, including the suicide bomber, were killed as a result of swift action by security forces, the sources said. A clearance operation was also underway, they added, according to Geo News.
A detailed list released by Civil Hospital included men, women and children among the injured, ranging from a six-year-old boy to elderly citizens. Three of the wounded were reported to be in critical condition. The impact of the explosion was devastating. Several vehicles, including a passenger bus and a rickshaw, were destroyed, while windows and doors of nearby buildings were shattered. Eyewitnesses reported hearing the blast from several kilometers away. Panic spread among local residents, and schools near the site were immediately closed.
CCTV footage of the incident showed a Suzuki vehicle abruptly turning toward the FC headquarters’ gate before detonating. Plumes of smoke and dust were seen rising after the massive explosion. Security officials said the attackers’ plan to storm the headquarters was effectively foiled by FC troops. Soon after the attack, heavy contingents of FC, police and other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area, launched clearance operations, and began collecting evidence. Initial investigations suggested that 25 to 30 kilograms of explosives were used.
Authorities have since tightened security across Quetta, particularly around the Red Zone, government buildings and busy marketplaces. Plainclothes personnel have been deployed to monitor suspicious individuals and vehicles, while armed police patrols have been intensified.
Police officials appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or unattended items to the nearest law enforcement personnel.
The attack has once again highlighted the threat of terrorism in the region. However, officials emphasized that such acts of violence will not shake their resolve.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the suicide attack that took place in Quetta and carried out by the Indian proxy Fitna al Hindustan.
The president, in a statement, said that the elements serving the interests of Fitna al Hindustan and India could not undermine Pakistan’s peace and stability. He commended the security forces for their timely and effective response to foil the malicious designs of the terrorists.
The president prayed for the swift recovery of the injured FC personnel. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to continue thwarting the nefarious designs of India-backed miscreants, saying that the growing frustration of anti-Pakistan forces was a reflection of their failure and inevitable downfall.
“As the global and regional scenario is shifting against anti-Pakistan states and their proxies, they are getting desperate. Pakistan, its people and the security forces shall prevail, Insha Allah,” Zardari said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces for killing terrorists of Fitna-al-Hindustan. In a statement, he prayed for the swift recovery of the personnel and civilians injured in the attack. He said that the nefarious designs of those who harmed the lives and property of innocent and defenseless citizens would be crushed.
“The elements attempting to harm Pakistan’s integrity will be dealt with exemplary punishment. The government, security forces and the entire nation are determined to eradicate terrorism and Fitna-al-Hindustan from the country,” the prime minister added.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the blast, saying the cowardly actions of terrorists will never undermine the courage of the public or the nation. In a statement, he said anti-state elements seek only to harm innocent citizens and spread fear, but the nation’s resolve and unity will always frustrate the militants’ vile designs. The chief minister said that security forces carried out a timely and effective operation, eliminating the attackers, for which the entire nation salutes the brave personnel. He added that the sacrifices of the forces and the cooperation of the public are the greatest strength in the fight against terrorism. Bugti said the province is united in its determination to make Balochistan peaceful and secure, and no sacrifice will be spared to achieve that goal. He expressed sympathy and solidarity with the families of the martyrs and prayed for elevation of the martyrs’ ranks. He also wished the wounded a speedy recovery and directed the administration to ensure the best medical care.
Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail also condemned the attack and expressed deep sorrow over the killing and wounding of innocent citizens near the FC headquarters at Pishin Stop. He strongly condemned the terrorist attack and urged law-enforcement agencies to use all available resources to arrest the perpetrators. Senate acting Chairman Syedal Khan expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives. He strongly condemned the cowardly and brutal act, calling it a failed attempt to destabilise the country’s peace and stability—a plot that will be thwarted by the nation’s unity, courage, and bravery. Balochistan Inspector General of Police Mohammad Tahir visited the blast site to inspect the scene. DIG CTD Aetzaz Ahmed Goraya and other senior police officers and representatives of security agencies accompanied him. During the visit, the DIG CTD gave the IG a detailed briefing covering initial evidence, the nature of the blast, the site situation, and the progress of the investigation.
IG Tahir said such cowardly attacks cannot weaken the morale of the police and law-enforcement agencies. He vowed that the sacrifices of security agencies and the public will not be in vain. He said protecting citizens’ lives and property is the top priority and that all available resources will be brought to bear to uproot the scourge of terrorism.
Jamila Achakzai adds from Islamabad: Condemning the suicide attack, the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s peace and stability, including in Balochistan.
In a statement, the US Embassy in Islamabad described the assault as a “heinous terrorist attack” that claimed several lives and left many injured. “We [the US] extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a swift recovery to those injured,” the statement read.
Underscoring its solidarity with Pakistan, the embassy said that Washington stood by Islamabad in its fight against terrorism and in efforts to ensure that its people can live free from violence and fear.
“We remain committed to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in Balochistan and across the nation,” it said. Also, the Embassy of Russia in Islamabad condemned the terrorist attack in Quetta.
In a message, the embassy also extended condolences to the families and friends of the blast victims and wished all those injured a speedy recovery. It emphasised the need to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “We hope that those who organised and perpetrated this attack will be identified and brought to justice,” it said.
Separately, in another major counterterrorism operation, security forces eliminated seven terrorists and injured ten others in Khuzdar’s Zehri area. The operation targets Fitna al-Hindustan. Launched after intelligence confirmed militant presence in the rugged mountainous terrain, the operation remains ongoing. Security sources stated that the terrorists had been harassing and intimidating local residents. Acting on this intelligence, security forces deployed a large contingent of ground troops, supported by helicopters, to flush out the militants. A fierce firefight resulted in the seven fatalities and left ten others injured.
The operation yielded significant recoveries, including prepared improvised explosive devices (IEDs), advanced transmitters, American-made automatic weapons, grenades, ammunition and motorcycles. Security officials stated these materials were intended for future terror attacks against civilians and state infrastructure. In a critical breakthrough, forces defused a large IED planted by Fitna al-Hindustan on the central bridge of Badokasht, averting a potential catastrophe. The discovery highlights the scale of the militants’ plans to spread chaos.
Officials reaffirmed that the operation will continue until Fitna al-Hindustan and other India-backed elements involved in destructive activities across the region are completely neutralised. They stressed that Pakistan’s security forces remain committed to ensuring peace and will not allow foreign-sponsored terror outfits to destabilise the country.