A suicide attack drags the Pakistani city of Quetta

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Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province, near the border with Afghanistan. The province has seen a decades-long insurgency by separatists calling for Pakistan’s independence, citing what they say is the state’s monopoly and the exploitation of the province’s mineral resources.

Quetta District Inspector General of Police Azhar Akram confirmed to CNN that the attack was caused by a suicide bomber and took place early Sunday morning at a checkpoint of Frontier Corp, the paramilitary troops parked in the city of Quetta.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the blast in a statement released to CNN.

Although there were TTP-led attacks on Frontier Corp in July, the militant group’s latest deadly attack was in April, when an explosion outside a luxury hotel in Quetta killed four people and injure 12 more.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident in a Twitter post on Sunday.

“Condemn the TTP suicide attack at the FC checkpoint, Mastung Road, Quetta. My condolences go to the families of the martyrs and prayers for the recovery of the wounded. Salute our security forces and their sacrifices to maintain us safe frustrating terrorists backed by foreign “designs,” the tweet said.

Journalist Asim Khan reported from Quetta with Sophia Saifi in Islamabad.

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