Car Bomb Kills Four, Injures 20 Near Market in Pakistan’s Balochistan

A car bomb explosion near a bustling market in Qillah Abdullah, Balochistan province, has killed four civilians and injured at least 20 others, officials said on Monday.

The blast occurred on Sunday night and damaged nearby shops as well as the outer wall of a paramilitary forces building, according to Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Riaz. The province, which borders Afghanistan, has long been a flashpoint for separatist insurgency and militant violence.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, local security official Ghulab Khan told AFP that the bomb was an improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a parked car. He suggested the intended target may have been the nearby paramilitary installation, but the explosion occurred prematurely.

“It seems the IED exploded before reaching its intended destination,” Khan said. “All those killed are civilian passers-by.”

The Balochistan government has condemned the incident and launched an investigation.