The United States has strongly condemned the suicide blast at a Balochistan National Party (BNP) gathering in Quetta that left at least 15 people dead and several others injured two days ago. In a post on X, the US Embassy in Islamabad wrote, “We offer our sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed and injured.” The statement also added, “The Pakistani people deserve to live free from violence and fear.”
Expressing solidarity with Islamabad, the US Embassy said that Washington “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan against reprehensible terrorist groups such as Daesh that has claimed responsibility for this attack, and in the global fight against terrorism.” The political rally in the Balochistan capital was targeted by a suicide attack in a busy area near Shahwani Stadium, leaving more than a dozen dead and nearly 38 wounded.
In response, the provincial government formed an investigation committee to probe the incident. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directed authorities to shift the wounded to Karachi if needed, while President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued strong condemnations of the terror attack. Separately, a spokesperson for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) stated that a case was registered against unidentified individuals over the suicide attack, including charges of murder, attempted murder, and anti-terrorism provisions.
This latest terror incident occurs amidst a rise in attacks, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions. According to a report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, the country experienced 78 terrorist attacks in June, resulting in at least 100 deaths.
The fatalities included 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of local peace committees. A total of 189 people were injured, including 126 security forces members and 63 civilians. In total, the violence and operations led to 175 deaths in June, comprising 55 security personnel, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two peace committee members.
