Pakistani Army officer killed in attack in Balochistan

At least two children were killed and a Chinese citizen was wounded in a suicide attack in southern Pakistan, the latest assault targeting Chinese citizens in the country, officials said. Credit: AFP Photo

An officer of the Pakistan Army has been killed and two soldiers injured in a terrorist attack in the restive southwestern Balochistan province, the Army said on Sunday.

Captain Kashif was killed while two soldiers were injured after their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by terrorists in Balochistan's Gichik area, it said.

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, senior military official sand people from various walks of life attended the funeral prayer of Captain Kashif, the Army said in a statement.

Resource-rich Balochistan for a long time has witnessed violence by the Taliban and Baloch nationalists, but recently there has been an increase in attacks.

A suicide bomber detonated his explosives on Friday close to a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals, killing at least two children and wounding three persons, including a Chinese, in the second such attack in over a month.

Also read: Suicide bomber in Pakistan kills Chinese national in roadside attack: Chinese embassy

Last month, at least 13 people, including nine Chinese, were killed in a terrorist attack in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last month.

The bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the site of the under-construction Dasu Dam exploded on July 14. The bus fell into a deep ravine after the explosion in the Upper Kohistan district.