A blast in the Sabakzai area of Zhob, Balochistan, resulted in at least one fatality and left ten others injured, according to police reports on Wednesday.
The injured were being transported to nearby hospitals, while authorities are working to determine the nature of the explosion.
This incident comes amid a troubling rise in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the state is engaged in a significant struggle against extremism.
Just days prior, unidentified gunmen targeted the vehicle of Deputy Commissioner Sherani, Sana Mahjabeen, in the Tang Gwal Haiderzai area of Killa Saifullah district. The attackers fled after facing retaliatory fire from the deputy commissioner’s security guards, and no casualties were reported.
Recent data indicates a sharp increase in fatalities from terrorist violence this year, with at least 1,534 deaths recorded in the first three quarters of 2024—surpassing the total fatalities for all of 2023. A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) highlighted that nearly 97% of these deaths occurred in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking the highest percentage in a decade.
Despite the alarming statistics, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) noted a significant decline in militant activities in Balochistan after a spike in August. In September, the province experienced 27 attacks, resulting in 22 deaths and 48 injuries, a stark contrast to August's figures of 43 attacks, 125 deaths, and 77 injuries.